Like A Lightbulb: Do You Remember The Extra ‘Rudolph’ Lyrics?

Do You Remember The Extra 'Rudolph' Lyrics?

I'm sure you know the Christmas song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Originally recorded by Gene Autry, the song has been a holiday hit since 1949. Then there are the TV specials that we all watched as kids.

I bring the 'Rudolph' song up because my daughter has been singing it...a lot. And I remembered that when I was in elementary school, in the panhandle of Nebraska, we'd sing a version that included some extra lyrics.

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The extra lyrics were like little jokes that echoed the main lyrics. I was trying to remember all these lyrics and my daughter thought I was being funny.

It blew her mind that no, I wasn't making it up and I learned it in school.

For example, "They never let poor Rudolph, join in any reindeer games. (Like Monopoly!)."

Do you remember doing that? It's like cinnamon rolls with chili, it happens in some places but is never heard of in others.

Or maybe it has to do with where your elementary school music teacher went to school. Because I first learned these extra lyrics when we did a Christmas play in the first grade.

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' Fun Lyrics

I remember being so excited about that play. I had new boots and dressed up in my finest polo shirt with a fancy ring of paper around my head with sticks stapled to it (so I looked like a reindeer). We rehearsed for between one day and five weeks, I don't really remember.

What I do remember is shouting, "Like the toothpaste!" Because there was a toothpaste brand in the olden days of the early '80s called Gleem.

We also shouted "Like a lightbulb" in reference to Rudy's nose.

I have found some variation regarding how Roudoulph will go down in history.

Some folks recall shouting "George Washington!" or "Like Columbus!" But I am 90% sure we sang "Like Nixon!" This was 1982, so maybe that was a funnier reference for the time.

Those lyrics are so engrained into my mind that I have to shout them out with glee every time I hear the song. Much to the chagrin of my Christmas music-loving daughter.

Here are the 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' lyrics I remember:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Had a very shiny nose (like a light bulb)
And if you ever saw it, You would even say it glowed (like a flashlight)
All of the other reindeer, Used to laugh and call him names (like Pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph, Join in any reindeer games (like Monopoly)

Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say 
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

Then how the reindeer loved him, And they shouted out with glee (Like the toothpaste)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, You'll go down in history (like Nixon)

Original lyrics by Johnny Marks, 1949

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ben Kuhns is just some guy on the internet. He is a wannabe writer, and his wife thinks he's funny. He writes for Results-Townsquare Media in Sioux Falls South Dakota.

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