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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Dec 10 - 05:16 AM Aw, Don, you shouldn't have!!! |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: ClaireBear Date: 25 Dec 10 - 04:23 AM And to all, a good night! |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Bugsy Date: 25 Dec 10 - 04:02 AM Quite right Joe! A Merry Christmas to all, Cheers Bugsy |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Lester Date: 24 Dec 10 - 03:34 PM http://www.afolksongaday.com/2010/12/22/rudolph-the-rednosed-reindeer/ |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Don Firth Date: 24 Dec 10 - 03:31 PM Gee! I really hate to be the one to break this to you, but. . . . *SOB!!* Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Dec 10 - 02:52 PM See, Bugsy? This is an absolutely wonderful thread! Merry Christmas to all. |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Dorothy Parshall Date: 24 Dec 10 - 11:39 AM That is a wonderful gift! Thank you Clairebear!!!! And Bugsy for being the catalyst!! |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: kendall Date: 24 Dec 10 - 11:29 AM Sorry. I don't know what came over me. |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 24 Dec 10 - 11:12 AM When I was very small, I lived in south Florida, where we had two kinds of weather, either bright sunshine or hard rain. One of my earliest memories is of asking my mother what 'foggy' meant in the line 'foggy Christmas Eve.' Her explanation left me completely baffled. If you've ever been to the flat, flat land of south Florida, you will understand this: I was equally baffled when I heard 'Mockingbird Hill' on the radio and then asked her what a hill was. |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Trapper Date: 24 Dec 10 - 11:00 AM arrrrrrrgh! Thanks Kendall! If you hadn't done it, I was going to! - Al |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: kendall Date: 24 Dec 10 - 09:42 AM The original Rudolph was a Viking King. He had a long flowing beard that was bright red. He was known as Rudolph the Red.He and his wife never agreed on anything. Both were obstinate and seemed to enjoy disagreeing with each other. One Christmas eve he looked out the window and said to his wife, "It's going to rain." She, of course, said "No, it's too cold to rain." He replied, "I'm telling you, it's going to rain.!" "NO! she yelled back at him."It's not going to rain." He looked her dead in the eye and said "Rudolph,The Red", knows rain, dear." |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: nickp Date: 24 Dec 10 - 08:54 AM Great fun. Thanks ClaireBear |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: banjoman Date: 24 Dec 10 - 06:10 AM I think that that poem is absolutely wonderful and should be sent to every child in the world. (perhaps Santa could help) Have a great Christmas |
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Subject: Lyr Add: RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (R May) From: ClaireBear Date: 24 Dec 10 - 12:23 AM Hurrah! I've found a site I can paste it in from, but the site doesn't have the underlining that's a feature (though an incomprehensible one) of the original, so I'll correct that (and the stanza breaks) as I go. The poem is really long, so I'll type 'til I get distracted, and then come back to it later...expect episodes. Here goes:
The Red-Nosed Reindeer Written for Montgomery-Ward By Robert L. May 'Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the hills The reindeer were playing . . . enjoying the spills Of skating and coasting, and climbing the willows And hop-scotch and leap-frog (protected by pillows!) While every so often they'd stop to call names At one little deer not allowed in their games:-- "Ha ha! Look at Rudolph! His nose is a sight!" "It's as red as a beet!" "Twice as big!" "Twice as bright!" While Rudolph just wept. What else could he do? He knew that the things they were saying were true! Where most reindeers' noses are brownish and tiny, Poor Rudolph's was red, very large, and quite shiny. In daylight it dazzled. (The picture shows that!) At night-time it glowed, like the eyes of a cat. And putting dirt on it just made it look muddy. (Oh boy was he mad when they nick-named him "Ruddy!") Although he was lonesome, he always was good . . . Obeying his parents, as good reindeer should! That's why, on this day, Rudolph almost felt playful:– He hoped that from Santa (soon driving his sleighful Of presents and candy and dollies and toys For good little animals, good girls and boys) He'd get just as much . . . and this is what pleased him . . . As the happier, handsome reindeer who teased him. So as night, and a fog, hid the world like a hood, He went to bed hopeful; he knew he'd been good! While way, way up North, on this same foggy night, Old Santa was packing his sleigh for its flight. "This fog," he complained, "will be hard to get through!" He shook his round head. (And his tummy shook, too!) "Without any stars or a moon as our compass, This extra-dark night is quite likely to swamp us. To keep from collisions, we'll have to fly slow. To keep our direction, we'll have to fly low. We'll steer by street-lamps and houses tonight, In order to finish before it gets light. Just think how the boys' and girls' faith would be shaken, If we didn't reach 'em before they awaken! COME DASHER! Come Dancer! Come Prancer and Vixen! Come Comet! Come Cupid! Come Donner and Blitzen! Be quick with your suppers! Get hitched in a hurry! You, too, will find fog a delay and a worry!" And Santa was right. (As he usually is!) The fog was as thick as a soda's white fizz Just NOT-getting-LOST needed all Santa's skill . . . With street-signs and numbers more difficult still. He tangled in tree-tops again and again, And barely missed hitting a tri-motored plane. He still made good speed, with much twisting and turning, As long as the street lamps and house lights were burning. At each house, first noting the people who live there, He'd quickly select the right presents to give there. By midnight, however, the last light had fled. (For even big people have then gone to bed!) BECAUSE it might wake them, a match was denied him. (Oh my, how he wished for just one star to guide him!) Through dark streets and houses old Santa fared poorly. He now picked the presents more slowly, less surely. He really was worried! For what would he do, If folks started waking before he was through? The air was still foggy, the night dark and drear, When Santa arrived at the home of the deer. A ledge that he tripped-on while seeking the chimney Gave Santa a spill, and a painfully skinned-knee. The room he came down in was blacker than ink, He went for a chair, and then found it . . . a sink! The first reindeer bedroom was so very black, He tripped on the rug, and fell flat on his back. So dark that he had to move close to the bed, And squint very hard at the sleeping deer's head, Before he could choose the right kind of a toy. (A doll for a girl, or a train for a boy.) But all this took time, and filled Santa with gloom, While slowly he groped toward the next reindeer's room. The door he'd just opened . . . when, to his surprise, A dim but quite definite light met his eyes. The lamp wasn't burning; the glow came, instead, From something that lay at the head of the bed. And there lay . . . but wait now! What would you suppose? The glowing (you've guessed it) was RUDOLPH'S RED NOSE! So this room was easy! This one little light Let Santa pick quickly the gifts that were right. How happy he was, till he went out the door . . . The rest of the house was as black as before! So black that it made every step a dark mystery. And then . . . came the greatest idea in all history! He went back to Rudolph and started to shake him (Of course, very gently) in order to wake him. And Rudolph could scarcely believe his own eyes! You just can imagine his joy and surprise At seeing who stood there, so real and so near, While telling the tale we've already told here:– Poor Santa's sad tale of distress and delay . . . The fog and the darkness, and losing the way . . . The horrible fear that some children might waken Before his complete Christmas trip had been taken. "AND YOU," he told Rudolph, "may yet save the day! Your wonderful forehead may yet pave the way For a wonderful triumph! It actually might!" (Old Santa, you notice, was extra-polite To Rudolph, regarding his "wonderful forehead." To call it a "big, shiny nose" would sound horrid!) "I need you," said Santa, "to help me tonight . . . To lead all my deer on the rest of our flight." And Rudolph broke-out into such a big grin, It almost connected his ears and his chin! A note for his folks he dashed-off in a hurry. "I've gone to help Santa," he wrote. "Do not worry." Said Santa: -–"My sleigh I'll bring down to the lawn. You'd stick in the chimney." And flash . . . he was gone. SO RUDOLPH pranced-out through the door, very gay, And took his proud place at the head of the sleigh. The rest of the night . . . well, what would you guess? Old Santa's idea was a brilliant success. And "brilliant" was almost no word for the way That Rudolph directed the deer and the sleigh. IN spite of the fog, they flew quickly, and low, And made such good use of the wonderful glow From Rudolph's . . . er . . . forehead, at each intersection That not even once did they lose their direction! While as for the houses and streets with a sign on 'em, They merely flew close, so that Rudolph could shine on 'em. To tell who lived where, and just what to give whom. They'd fly by each window and peek in the room. OLD Santa knew always which children where good, And minded their parents, and ate as they should So Santa selected the gift that was right, While Rudolph's . . . er . . . forehead gave just enough light. It all went so fast, that before it was day, The very last present was given away. . . The very last stocking was filled to the top, Just as the sun was preparing to pop. This sun woke the reindeer in Rudolph's home town. They found the short message that he'd written down . . . Then gathered outside to await his return. And were they excited, astonished, to learn That Rudolph, the ugliest deer of them all, (Rudolph the Red-nose . . . bashful and small . . . The funny-faced fellow they always called names, And practically never allowed in their games) Was now to be envied by all, far and near. For no greater honor can come to a deer Than riding with Santa and guiding his sleigh! The number-one job, on the number-one day! The sleigh, and its reindeer, soon came into view. And Rudolph still led them, as downward they flew. Oh boy, was he proud, as they came to a landing Right where his handsomer playmates were standing! These bad deer who used to do nothing but tease him Would now have done anything . . . only to please him! They felt even sorrier they had been bad When Santa said:--"Rudolph, I never have had A deer quite so brave or so brilliant as you At fighting black fog, and at guiding me through. By YOU last night's journey was actually bossed. Without you, I'm certain we'd all have been lost! I hope you'll continue to keep us from grief, On future dark trips, as COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF!" But Rudolph just blushed, from his head to his toes, Until his whole fur was as red as his nose! THE crowd first applauded, then started to screech:-- "Hurray for our Rudolph" and "We want a speech!" But Rudolph was bashful, despite being a hero! And tired! (His sleep on the trip totaled zero.) So that's why his speech was just brief, and not bright:— "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night" . . . And THAT'S why . . . whenever it's foggy and gray, It's Rudolph the Red-nose who guides Santa's sleigh. Be listening, this Christmas! (But don't make a peep . . . 'cause that late at night, children should be asleep!) The very first sound that you'll hear on the roof (Provided there's fog) will be Rudolph's small hoof. And soon after that (if you're still as a mouse) You may hear a "swish" as he flies 'round the house, And gives enough light to give Santa a view Of you and your room. And when they're all through, You may hear them call, as they drive out of sight:—- "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!" |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Bugsy Date: 24 Dec 10 - 12:23 AM Perhaps we're only just scratching the surface Joe???? cheers Bugsy |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: ClaireBear Date: 23 Dec 10 - 11:45 PM I have the book downstairs -- hang on ... |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Dec 10 - 11:06 PM Wait, Bugsy, there's more! Here's what my library says about the sequel, Rudolph's Second Christmas
Now, wouldn't it be nice if somebody posted the original, poetic version of Rudolph? Anybody have it? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Louie Roy Date: 23 Dec 10 - 10:30 PM I have the recording of Gene Autry on an old 78 |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Bugsy Date: 23 Dec 10 - 10:27 PM THanks Joe, and so ends the shortest thread in history. Cheers Bugsy |
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Subject: RE: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Dec 10 - 10:21 PM Wikipedia says Rudolph first appeared in 1939 in a children's book written by Robert L. May and published by Montgomery Ward. May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, decided to adapt the story of Rudolph into a song. There was an informal recording of a 1948 performance of the song by Harry Brannon, and then Gene Autry recorded the song in 1949 and it became a hit. Snopes.com has information about an urban legend that the song was written by a father to bring comfort to his daughter as the girl's mother was dying of cancer. -Joe- |
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Subject: Rudolph: which first? legend or song From: Bugsy Date: 23 Dec 10 - 10:08 PM I was at work at 4.20 this morning,and merrily singing Christmas songs when a thought occurred halfway through "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer".......Which came first, song or legend? Was the song written about the legend of Rudolph, or did the legend of Rudolph develop from the song? Cheers Bugsy |
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