Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Shelby Lynne Lyrics


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You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
(reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Play in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him
And they shouted out with glee




"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history!"

Overall Meaning

Shelby Lynne's rendition of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is a classic Christmas favorite. The lyrics of this song are a whimsical tale of a reindeer who is ridiculed for his unique feature, his glowing red nose. The song starts by listing the names of all the eight main reindeer who pull Santa's sleigh, and then it quickly moves to Rudolph, who is introduced as the most famous of them all. His red nose is so shiny that anyone who sees it will attest to its brilliance.


All of the other reindeer laugh at Rudolph and call him names, and as a result, Rudolph is never allowed to play any reindeer games. However, one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa arrives and realizes that Rudolph's nose could be useful. He decides to make him the lead reindeer so that he can guide his sleigh through the poor visibility. Rudolph is elated with this recognition, and he successfully leads Santa's sleigh through the night. The other reindeer then accept Rudolph and shower him with love, which takes him from being an outcast to a hero.


Overall, the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a feel-good song that has become a holiday classic over the years. It teaches us that everyone is special in their unique way and that sometimes, all it takes is one person to recognize our worth.


Line by Line Meaning

You know Dasher and Dancer
You are familiar with the names of Santa's reindeer named Dasher and Dancer.


And Prancer and Vixen,
In addition to Dasher and Dancer, you also know the names of two other reindeer, Prancer and Vixen.


Comet and Cupid
You are also familiar with two more reindeer named Comet and Cupid.


And Donner and Blitzen.
Lastly, the names of the last two of Santa's reindeer are Donner and Blitzen.


But do you recall
However, there is one particular reindeer that stands out more than the others.


The most famous reindeer of all?
This is the question that is being asked about the beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.


Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
This is the introduction to the story of Rudolph, who is known for his bright, red nose.


Had a very shiny nose
Rudolph's nose is not only bright but also shiny.


And if you ever saw it
If you had the chance to see Rudolph's nose for yourself,


You would even say it glows
You would surely describe it as glowing due to its brightness.


All of the other reindeer
This is the beginning of a harsh truth that Rudolph had to face.


(reindeer)
This is an interjection that emphasizes that the story is talking about the other reindeer once again.


Used to laugh and call him names
The other reindeer used to tease and make fun of Rudolph for his unique nose by calling him derogatory names.


They never let poor Rudolph
This line furthers the idea that Rudolph faced consistent alienation.


Play in any reindeer games
The other reindeer did not allow Rudolph to join in any reindeer-related activities.


Then one foggy Christmas Eve
The story shifts, and there is a significant event that takes place on this particular Christmas Eve.


Santa came to say
Santa Claus makes an appearance in the story.


Rudolph with your nose so bright
Santa reaches out to Rudolph, recognizing how special he is, citing his bright red nose.


Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Santa requests Rudolph's help in leading the sleigh that evening.


Then all the reindeer loved him
Once the other reindeer see how Rudolph's differences can be a strength, they change their opinions of him.


And they shouted out with glee
The other reindeer express joy at the prospect of Rudolph helping Santa with his sleigh.


"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
This is a triumphant moment where Rudolph's achievements are being celebrated.


You'll go down in history!"
The story ends with the other reindeer realizing the impact that Rudolph's uniqueness had on the Christmas-adjacent traditions.




Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, ST. NICHOLAS MUSIC INC., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Johnny Marks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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