Album: Berry Christmas (1958)

Charted: 36 10

License This Song 

• Out of all the reindeers you know you're the mastermind
  Run, run Rudolph, Randalph ain't too far behind
  Run, run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town
  Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
  Run, run Rudolph 'cause I'm reeling like a merry go round
  
  Said Santa to a boy "Child what have you been longing for?"
  "All I want for Christmas is a rock and roll electric guitar"
  And then away went Rudolph whizzing like a shooting star
  Run, run Rudolph, Santa has to make it to town
  Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
  Run, run Rudolph, reeling like a merry go round
  
  Run, run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town
  Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
  Run, run Rudolph, I'm reeling like a merry go round
  
  Said Santa to a girl "Child what would please you most to get?"
  "A little baby doll that can cry, sleep, drink and wet"
  And then away went Rudolph whizzing like a Saber jet
  Run, run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town
  Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
  Run, run Rudolph, I'm reeling like a merry go round Writer/s: Johnny Marks, Marvin Brodie
  Publisher: Word Collections Publishing
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

• Kathi Ybarr from Yuba City , CaTheir seems to be a debate as to who actually wrote this song, was it Chuck Berry (who used a secret co-writer ) or Mr Marks? Truly it was neither.
• Kathi Ybarr from Yuba City , CaI'm pretty sure the song was actually written by Dial Hall from Kentucky. Stolen and sold by his brother to someone in Nashville . I have an original recording done prior to 1958 when it was released by Mr Berry....
• Tim from Bovey, MnThe inclusion of "Randolph" as a reindeer in this song still bewilders me. Above I mentioned that I had read chuck ad-libbed "Randolph" in place of Vixen who was in the original lyric -- then it dawned on me, Homer and Jethro recorded "Randolph the Flat Nosed Reindeer" back in 1953. Odd that Chuck would have chosen this obscure name by accident. Also, the Randolph song lists Johnny Marks AND H&J as writers, but since it uses the tune of the original Rudolph, that makes sense. Odd that any sort of licensing would have required Chuck to credit Marks, as the song mentions Rudolph AND Randolph, so he should have credited H&J also following that logic. And I would imagine the name and concept and copyright or trademark of Rudolph belonged to Robert May (creator) or Montgomery Wards as it was their advertising flyer for which Rudolph was created in 1939 -- Marks didn't invent Rudolph, or the story, he just made it into a song. yes, I realize I'm over analyzing a simply holiday song but the details are driving me nuts!
• Tim from Bovey, MnWikipedia tells the tale a bit differently: "Even though the song was written by Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie and published by Johnny Marks' publishing company, St. Nicholas Music, the 1958 45 rpm single has the song written by "C. Berry Music & M. Brodie". The thought was to cover up the known Christmas songwriter Johnny Marks from hip R&B DJs and buyers.[citation needed] The song was subsequently officially always listed as written by Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie and published by St. Nicholas Music (ASCAP). All cover versions of the song show the composers as Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie and the publisher as St. Nicholas Music." I also read someplace this season that the original Johnny marks lyric was "Vixen ain't too far behind" and Chuck's famous lyric changing/ad libbed style in the studio changed it to "Randolph" as he was recording the tune. We may never know the real story!
• Steve from Ottawa, OnThere was also a cover of this song on the CD "We Wish You A Metal Christmas", released in Oct, 2008. The song featured Lemmy of Motörhead on bass and vocals, Billy Gibbons of ZZTop on guitar, and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters on drums.

More Songfacts:

When Doves CryPrince

Prince kept doves at his Paisley Park mansion. And yes, sometimes they did cry.

Big Yellow TaxiJoni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" is about the commercialization of Hawaii. On her first trip to the islands, she looked out of her hotel window and saw a parking lot as far as the eye could see.

TimberPitbull

Rihanna was Pitbull's first choice to sing on "Timber," but she wasn't available at the time so he enlisted his RCA labelmate Kesha instead.

She Blinded Me With ScienceThomas Dolby

Thomas Dolby wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct the video, which was inspired by silent films and set in a "home for deranged scientists."

Freedom Of ChoiceDevo

The Devo song "Freedom Of Choice" is about mindless consumerism - how people like to make frivolous choices, but otherwise want to be told what to do.

25 Or 6 To 4Chicago

The title "25 Or 6 To 4" by Chicago refers to the time it was written: either 25 minutes to 4 (3:35) or 26 (3:34).

Editor's Picks

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.