A Christmas Carol in German and English
“Rudolph, das kleine Rentier”
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is a popular Christmas song first made popular in 1949 by the singing cowboy Gene Autry (Orvon Grover “Gene” Autry, 1907-1998). Besides “Rudolph,” Autry had several other Christmas hit songs, including “Frosty the Snowman” and “Here Comes Santa Claus,” which he wrote himself. There are several different German versions of “Rudolph” with lyrics that follow the English original by Johnny Marks to varying degrees. (More about the song below.)
The animated film version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” made its first appearance on US television in 1964. It is the longest-running holiday special in television history, still being broadcast every Christmas season. Hermey the Elf, seen here, was Rudolph’s pal. PHOTO: CBS/Rankin Bass Productions
Besides the original hit song, “Rudolph” gained even more popularity after the Rankin Bass stop-motion animated feature (in color) with Burl Ives first ran on television (CBS) in 1964 (German title: “Rudolph mit der roten Nase”). The German version is also popular in German-speaking Europe.
Here are the original “Rudolph” English lyrics by Johnny Marks. Below that you’ll also find three different German versions and more information about this song. Hear the three versions of “Rudolph” in the videos below.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Words: Robert L. May (1905-1976) and John D. Marks
Music: John D. (Johnny) Marks (1909-1985)
Intro
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
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 how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee:
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you’ll go down in history!”
Three German Versions of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
1. “Rudolph, das kleine Rentier [bei den Lappen]”“Rudolph, the Tiny Reindeer [known in Lapland]” |
|
| Deutsch (German) | English |
|---|---|
| Deutscher Text: Unbekannt | Literal English translation – HF |
| Jeder kennt schon die Märchen Und alten Geschichten, Die uns von Feen Und Hexen berichten. Doch neu ist dieses hier, Und darum erzähl’ ich sie dir: |
Everyone knows the fairy tales and old stories telling us of fairies and witches. But this one is new and that’s why I’m telling you: |
| Rudolph, das kleine Rentier, Jeder bei den Lappen kennt, Denn seine rote Nase Weit und breit wie Feuer brennt. |
Rudolph the tiny reindeer known throughout Lapland because his red nose glows far and wide like fire. |
| Und alle Tiere lachen, Seht nur seine Nase an. Rudolph ist so verzweifelt, Weil er nichts ändern kann. |
All the animals laugh, just look at his nose! Rudolph is so desperate for he can’t change anything. |
| Doch kurz vor der Weihnachtszeit Kam der Nikolaus. Rudolphs Nase führte ihn Aus dem dunkeln Wald heraus. |
But just before Christmas time Nicholas came. Rudolph’s nose guided him out of the dark forest. |
| Er war der Held des Tages, Alle waren stolz und froh, Und man bewundert Rudolph Heute immer noch im Zoo. |
He was the hero of the day, everyone was proud and happy, and people admire Rudolph still today at the zoo. |
| ORIGINAL: See the original English lyrics above. | |
BACK > German Christmas Carol Lyrics
2. “Rudolph, das kleine Rentier [mit der leuchtend roten Nas’]”“Rudolph, the Tiny Reindeer [with the glowing red nose]” |
|
| Deutsch (German) | English |
|---|---|
| Deutscher Text: Unbekannt | Literal English translation – HF |
| Rudolph, das kleine Rentier mit der leuchtend roten Nas’ konnte man von weitem sehen, die anderen hatten ihren Spaß. |
Rudolph, the tiny reindeer with the glowing red nose could be seen from afar. The others had their fun. |
| Alle in der Rentierherde lachten über ihn ganz fies gaben ihm gemeine Namen und keiner ihn mitspielen ließ. |
All in the reindeer herd laughed about him quite nastily, gave him mean names and no one let him play with them. |
| Neblig wars zur Weihnachtszeit, als Niklaus kam und sprach: Hey, Blinkernase gib mal acht! Du führst den Schlitten heute nacht. |
Foggy it was at Christmas time when Nicholas came and said: Hey, blinker nose, listen up! You will lead the sleigh tonight. |
| Seit diesem Tag war Rudi im Rentierland der Superstar, jeder wollte jetzt sein Freund sein, die Nase fand man wunderbar. [Wiederholt sich] |
From that day on Rudi was the superstar in reindeer land, Everyone wanted to be his friend now. They found his nose wonderful. [Repeats] |
| NOTE: This German version does not keep the introductory verse of the original song in English. ORIGINAL: See the original English lyrics above. |
|
BACK > German Christmas Carol Lyrics
3. “Rudolph, das kleine Rentier [mit der roten Nase dran]”“Rudolph, the Tiny Reindeer [with the red nose on him]” |
|
| Deutsch (German) | English |
|---|---|
| Deutscher Text: Unbekannt | Literal English translation – HF |
| Ganz weit oben im Norden, wo Schneeflocken wehen, da ist vor Jahren ein Märchen geschehen, mitten im Winterwald, als es weihnachtlich still war und kalt. |
Quite far up in the North where snow flakes blow there [many] years ago a fairy tale happened in the middle of the winter forest when it was Christmas-like silent and cold. |
| Rudolph, das kleine Rentier mit der roten Nase dran, das war ein wenig anders, als die anderen Tiere war’n. |
Rudolph, the tiny reindeer with his red nose, that was a bit different than the other animals were. |
| Und alle Leute lachten: “Rudolph sag, wie siehst du aus? Mit dieser Glimmernase bleibst du besser gleich Zuhaus.” |
And everyone laughed: “Rudolph, tell us, what do you look like? With this glowing nose, you should just stay at home.” |
| Aber Santa Claus, der sprach: “Rudolph, zieh mit mir. Knips die rote Nase an, dann wird mein Schlitten sicher fahr’n!” |
But Santa Claus spoke: “Rudolph, come with me. Switch your red nose on, then my sleigh will travel safely.” |
| Und alle Tiere riefen: “Rudolph, du bist unser Held! Und deine rote Nase ist die Beste auf der Welt!” [Wiederholt sich] |
And all the animals shouted: “Rudolph, you’re our hero! And your red nose is the best in the world!” [Repeats] |
| ORIGINAL: See the original English lyrics above. | |
BACK > German Christmas Carol Lyrics
About This Song
“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: The Montgomery Ward Connection
The German edition of the book is entitled “Rudolph mit der roten Nase.” PHOTO: Amazon.de
In 1939, in an effort to attract more holiday shoppers to the Montgomery Ward stores (1872-2001), Robert L. May wrote a narrative poem about an underdog reindeer who saves Christmas one foggy night. The book version proved very popular and the retailer sold millions of copies of the Rudolph story. (Denver Gillen from Ward’s art department created Rudolph’s image.) In 1949 May’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks (1909-1985), adapted the original words and set them to music. The musical version, first sung by Gene Autry, quickly became a Christmas favorite. Over the years, “Rudolph” has also become popular in other languages, including German. There are several German translations of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and we have three of them here.
By the way, Johnny Marks’ lyrics are also responsible for a change in one of the reindeer names invented by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823. The reindeer originally named “Donder” in Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” became “Donner” (thunder) in the 1949 song. Also see “White Christmas” – another 20th century American Christmas hit popular as “Weiße Weihnacht” in German.
Enjoy the three different German versions of “Rudolph” in the videos below.
VIDEO 1: “Rudolph, das kleine Rentier” (soundtrack)
Note: These lyrics are not the same as No. 1 above.
VIDEO 2: “Rudolph, das kleine Rentier”
VIDEO 3: “Rudolph, das kleine Rentier” (music only with on-screen lyrics)
Next | German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY
- “Frosty the Snowman” was also a Gene Autry Christmas hit. Lyrics in German and English
- German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
- Silent Night (Stille Nacht) – Our “Silent Night” page has the true story and related links.
- Lyrics: “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) – Lyrics in German and English
- Christmas from A to Z – German Christmas traditions and terms
- Advent Calendar with Christmas Facts – Starting Dec. 1, in season
- Christmas Markets in Germany and Europe – An overview of the top Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Photo Gallery: Christmas in Germany – Berlin – A visual tour of Christmas markets and other December sights in Berlin
- Advent and Christmas – The “arrival”
- Christmas in the USA and Germany– A comparison chart
- Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
ON THE WEB
- Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Wikipedia, in German) – About the 1939 book, the 1949 song, and the 1964 film version
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Wikipedia, in English) – About the 1939 book and the character created by Robert May, with links to info about the song and the films
Legal Notice: We are not responsible for the content of external links.
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