Bullied No More: Rudolph’s Revenge

For years we have been accosted with the Christmas song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Even as a little child, I remember how the song bothered me. Here we are singing about how Rudolph is different, his nose glows red, so the rest of the reindeer bully him and treat him like crap. Nice Christmas message, right? Then finally, when Santa sees a use for him, the reindeer come around and decide he’s okay.

Really? This is what we have our children celebrate the holiday with? The meaning of Christmas we want them to learn? “Hey you, you’re different. We don’t like you … go away … no playing for you.” I don’t think that’s a good message for children or adults. These days we consider that bullying.

There, I said it … RUDOLPH WAS BULLIED. Damn reindeer trying to get him to conform.

Well, I guess I’m not the only one that has felt this way all these years. My husband and I were putting lights on the Christmas tree while Spotify played through the house. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came on, and it was a new version – one we hadn’t heard before. My husband and I looked at each other shocked at the added words. Finally, someone else understood Rudolph’s plight.

I rushed to my phone to see who was singing and found that Jack Johnson had gotten it right. In his new lyrics, Rudolph stood up for himself, and the other reindeer apologized to him.

Jack Johnson – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer…

“Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa he came to say
‘Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?’
But then how the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee,
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you’ll go down in history!’

But Rudolph didn’t go for that, he said,
‘I see through your silly games, well how can you look me in the face when only yesterday you called me names?’
And all of the other reindeer, man, they sure did feel ashamed.
They said, ‘Rudolph you know we’re sorry. We’re truly gonna try to change.’”

Finally!! After all the years of feeling bad for Rudolph. All the times of hearing that song and thinking how messed up it was. Now there is a version, and a good one at that, with the right message at Christmas.

Thank you, Jack Johnson … for standing up for Rudolph.