WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022 - CHRISTMAS SONGS - DAY 3

 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022 - CHRISTMAS SONGS - DAY 3

Today, let’s look at Gene Autry today.

“America's Favorite Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry was already a popular radio star and movie icon when he recorded Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) in 1947, a song which he co-wrote with Oakley Haldeman. The record launched Gene into yet another field of stardom, that of the role of the Christmas Cowboy. Gene Autry's affiliation with Old Saint Nick would lead him to record numerous Christmas songs including the chart-topping holiday hit, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Gene also participated in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1945, 1946, and 1947, and was the Grand Marshal of the parade in 1980. Gene and his wife Jackie Autry rode in the parade in the early 1980s.

https://www.geneautry.com/clubhouse/christmas/index.html

The first big hit - Here Comes Santa Claus - Right Down Santa Claus Lane

“Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane

Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer pulling on the reins
Bells are ringing, children singing, all is merry and bright
So hang your stockings and say your prayers, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane
He's got a bag that's filled with toys for boys and girls again
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle, oh what a beautiful sight
So jump in bed and cover your head, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus Lane
He'll come around when chimes ring out that it's Christmastime again
Peace on earth will come to all if we just follow the light
So let's give thanks to the Lord above, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer pulling on the reins
Bells are ringing, children singing, all is merry and bright
So jump in bed and cover your head, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

He is a miracle come to all if we just follow the light

So let's give thanks to the Lord above, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

So let's give thanks to the Lord above, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight

*****

Seemingly Gene Autry, already a singing cowboy star, was needing a side B song and whipped out this song - remembering riding down Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Champion (‘the wonder horse”).  It was an instant hit in 1947 (my birth year!!!)

The article suggests that he was demoing the song to a friend who was having a drink with ice cubes - the friend was shaking the ice and it sounded like jingle bells - so another trivia lesson!!!

*****

And, another Autry classic - even more popular - Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer

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

Join 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"

*****

First - a disclaimer!!!  My father loved to change the lyrics to songs.  For the verse:

"Rudolph, with your nose so bright

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

He changed it to:

“Rudolph, with your nose so RED

WON’T YOU PULL MY LITTLE SLEIGH!!

As a parent and grandparent, I’ve tried to trick my family into the alternate verse!!

He had another Christmas song that he changed:

You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

(My dad changed that last line to “Santa Claus is dead”!!!)

***

There is another version with echos:

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer (reindeer)

had a very shiny nose. (like a light bulb!)

And if you ever saw him, (saw him)

you would even say it glows. (like a light bulb)

All of the other reindeer (reindeer)

used to laugh and call him names. (Like Pinocchio!)

They never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph)

join in any reindeer games. (Like Monopoly!)

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say (ho ho ho)

“Rudolph with your nose so bright,

won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

Then all the reindeer loved him (loved him)

as they shouted out with glee, (Yippie!)

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, (reindeer)

you’ll go down in history! (Like Christopher Columbus)

*****

So, Rudolph became a celebrity - there are various Christmas animation shows about him.

*****

Following yesterday’s comments.  Christmas can be fun and even silly - but it is more than just “fun and games”.  Let’s CELEBRATE WITH GREAT FUN AND PLEASURE!!!

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © DECEMBER 7, 2022