Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., (John Denver) was born in Roswell, New Mexic… Read Full Bio ↴Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., (John Denver) was born in Roswell, New Mexico, to Erma Louise Swope and Henry John Deutschendorf, Sr., an Air Force officer and flight instructor of German ancestry. At the age of 12, Denver received a 1910 Gibson acoustic jazz guitar from his grandmother. He learned to play well enough to perform at local clubs by the time he was in college. He adopted the surname "Denver" after the capital of his favorite state, Colorado. Attending high school in Fort Worth, Texas was a distressing experience for the alienated Denver. In his third year of high school, he took his father's car and ran away to California to visit family friends and pursue a musical career. His father flew to California to retrieve him, and Denver returned to finish high school. Denver dropped out of the School of Engineering (Architecture) at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) in Lubbock, Texas, in 1963, and moved to Los Angeles, California, where he sang in the smoky underground folk clubs. In 1965, Denver joined the Chad Mitchell Group, a folk group that had been renamed "The Mitchell Trio" prior to Chad Mitchell's departure and before Denver's arrival, and then "Denver, Boise, and Johnson" (John Denver, David Boise, and Michael Johnson). In 1969, Denver abandoned the band life to pursue a solo career, and released his first album for RCA Records, Rhymes and Reasons. It was not a huge hit, but it contained "Leaving On A Jet Plane," which was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary two years prior when Mitchell Trio manager Milt Okun had brought the unrecorded Denver song to the high-profile folk group. Soon after the John Denver version was released, the Peter, Paul and Mary version hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Although RCA did not actively promote the album with a tour, Denver himself embarked on an impromptu supporting tour throughout the Midwest, stopping at towns and cities as the fashion took him, offering to play free concerts at local venues. When he was successful in convincing a school, college, American Legion Hall, or local coffee-house to let him play, he would spend a day or so postering the town and could usually be counted upon to show up at the local radio station, guitar in hand, offering himself for an interview. With the foot-in-the-door of having authored "Leaving On A Jet Plane," he was often successful in gaining some valuable promotional airtime, usually featuring one or two songs performed live. Some venues would let him play for the "door"; others restricted him to selling copies of the album at intermission and after the show. After several months of this constant low-key touring schedule, however, he had sold enough albums to convince RCA to take a chance on extending his recording contract. He had also built a sizable and solid fan base, many of whom remained loyal throughout his career. His album Poems, Prayers, and Promises (released in 1971), was a breakthrough for him in the U.S., thanks in part to the single "Take Me Home Country Roads," which went to #2 on the Billboard charts despite the first pressings of the track being distorted. Its success was due in part to the efforts of his new manager, future Hollywood producer Jerry Weintraub, who signed Denver in 1970. Weintraub insisted on a re-issue of the track and began a radio-airplay campaign that started in Denver, Colorado. Denver's career flourished from then on, and he had a series of hits over the next four years. In 1972, Denver scored his first Top Ten album with Rocky Mountain High, with its title track reaching the Top Ten in 1973. Between 1974 and 1975, Denver experienced an impressive chart dominance, with a string of four #1 songs ("Sunshine On My Shoulders," "Annie's Song," "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," and "I'm Sorry"). Denver was also a guest star on The Muppet Show, the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Denver and Jim Henson that spawned two television specials with The Muppets.

Little Saint Nick
John Denver & the Muppets Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
Ooh

Well, way up north where the air gets cold
There's a tale about Christmas that you've all been told
And a real famous cat all dressed up in red
And he spends the whole year working out on his sled
It's a little Saint Nick, (little Saint Nick)

It's a little Saint Nick, (little Saint Nick)

Just a little bobsled, we call it old Saint Nick
But he sparks the buggy with a full-speed stick
She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel
When Santa gives the gas man just watch her peel, yeah
Little Saint Nick, (ooh little Saint Nick)
It's little Saint Nick, (ooh little Saint Nick)

Run, run, reindeer
Run, run, reindeer
Run, run, reindeer
Run, run, reindeer
Run, run, reindeer

He's hauling through the snow at a frightening speed
With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead
He's gotta wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies
And he's cruising every path with a little surprise
It's the little Saint Nick, (ooh, little Saint Nick)
It's the little Saint Nick, (ooh, little Saint Nick)

Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
(Run, run, reindeer)
Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
(Run, run, run, run, reindeer)
Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
(run, reindeer, run, run, run)
Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
(Run, run, run, reindeer)
Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
(Run, run, run, run, run)
Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)

(Ooh yeah, alright, that's nice)
(Sorry)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John Denver & the Muppets' song "Little Saint Nick" take the listener on a journey to the North Pole, where a famous cat dressed up in red spends the whole year working out on his sled. The song is basically an ode to Santa Claus, who is depicted as a speed demon in his candy apple red bobsled with a ski for a wheel. The song describes in detail his half a dozen deer, led by Rudy, who help Santa haul through the snow at a frightening speed. The catchy chorus of "Run, run, reindeer" gets the listener into the festive spirit and adds to the fun and joy thematic of the song.

The song tells the story of Santa's bobsled, which is depicted as a high-performance machine that is hauled through the snow at breakneck speeds. This is not your typical sleigh ride; it is a fast-paced journey that is filled with excitement and energy. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody are sure to get the listener in the holiday spirit, and its simple lyrics make it a fun sing-along for audiences of all ages.

Line by Line Meaning

Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year)
Excitedly wishing Santa a joyous Christmas as it comes around once again

Well, way up north where the air gets cold There's a tale about Christmas that you've all been told And a real famous cat all dressed up in red And he spends the whole year working out on his sled It's a little Saint Nick, (little Saint Nick) It's a little Saint Nick, (little Saint Nick)
Describing the famous Santa Claus from the legendary story of Christmas, who spends his entire year preparing his sled to travel great lengths and distribute gifts

Just a little bobsled, we call it old Saint Nick But he sparks the buggy with a full-speed stick She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel When Santa gives the gas man just watch her peel, yeah Little Saint Nick, (ooh little Saint Nick) It's little Saint Nick, (ooh little Saint Nick)
Describing Santa's sled as a bobsled which he powers up with a speedy stick and features a ski for a wheel. When starting, it peels away with acceleration, hence the name Little Saint Nick

Run, run, reindeer Run, run, reindeer Run, run, reindeer Run, run, reindeer Run, run, reindeer
Encouraging the reindeer to run tirelessly through the snow and keep up speed

He's hauling through the snow at a frightening speed With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead He's gotta wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies And he's cruising every path with a little surprise It's the little Saint Nick, (ooh, little Saint Nick) It's the little Saint Nick, (ooh, little Saint Nick)
Describing Santa Claus speedily racing through the snow pulled by six energetic and fast flying reindeer led by Rudy. He wears goggles as snowflakes are flying everywhere, and he travels off the beaten path to surprise enthusiastic children with their gifts

Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year) (Run, run, reindeer) Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year) (Run, run, run, run, reindeer) Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year) (run, reindeer, run, run, run) Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year) (Run, run, run, reindeer) Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year) (Run, run, run, run, run) Ooh, merry Christmas, Santa (Christmas comes this time each year) (Ooh yeah, alright, that's nice) (Sorry)
Repeatedly exclaiming to Santa, complimenting him on his tireless work each year as he brings joy to children, while cheering on his reindeer to run fast and help Santa distribute gifts

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Love, Brian Wilson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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