'Twas on a Christmas long ago
An' there wis Santa feelin' low
For a' his lichts hid brokin doon
An' snavy cloods were ower the moon

He said "I've lots o' wark tae dae
Ah've presents for the big an' wee
Bit hoo am Ah tae steer ma sledge?
It's dark fin bairns are in their bed

The problem fairly hid him beat
So doon he sat tae hae a greet
Then somethin' gaed his hood a tug
An' shov't its nose agin his lug

That nose wis hotter'n reid wi' heat
An' Santa jump't up tae his feet
An' then he saw the crimsin glow
That frae this muckle nose did flow

He wip't the snotters frae his lug
An said "I've fairly been a mug!
Wi' Rudolph leadin'g frae the front
I'll manage tae avoid a dunt!"

Noo Rudolph wisna keen at a'
He didna like tae rin in sna'
He thoucht "This looks lik' hivy wark
I'm nae cut oot for sic' a lark"

He humm'd an' haw'd an' pintit oot
"This enterprise is fu' o' doot
Besides, ma' nose is only reid
If prim'd wi' plenty drink an' feed"

Bit Santa wisna pitten aff
He gaed a cheery kin' o' lauch
An' said "I'll see tae that a' richt"
An' gaed his lug anither dicht

Noo Santa lik't a dram himsel'
For in the North the win's are snell
So he'd fix't up a'side his seat
A fusky cask tae gie him heat

He fix'it on anither tap
An' tied ontae the harness strap
A pipie richt tae Rudolph's moo
So he cwid rin while gettin' fu'

He cried ower Rudolph tae inspect
Tae see if he wid still object
Bit Rudolph noo wis unca keen
An' gaed tae fetch his rinnin' sheen

Noo Santa's team wis hitchit up
An Rudolph took a trial sup
He said "Jist turn it far'er on"
An', man, his nose it fairly shone

They set aff at a reckless pace
Trailin' aft the boozy breath
Wi' Santa suppin' dram on dram
'Till his an Rudolph's vision swam

The steerin' noo wis far frae great
Bit still they drove at skelpin' rate
An' fairly made the runners hum
As Santa gaed frea lum tae lum

A' through the nicht at frantic' pace
They focht tae win the Cristmas race
An fan the dawn lit up the sky
The himmist hoose hid jist gaen by

They weaved their wye back hame at last
Bit noo their pace wis far frae fast
For a' the fusky noo wis daen
An' Rudolph's nose hid lost its sheen

They heaved puir Rudolph in the back
His een were glazed, his jaw wis slack
He hiccup't oot "A' I wid ask
Next time pit on a bigger cask"

So a' ye bairns, fin aff tae bed
Jist think o' Santa an' his sled
An' jist in case his cask rins dry
Mak' sure Dad's fusky's standin' by!

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