The genesis of this song (like so many other pieces I've worked on) is somewhat convoluted. I remember sitting in the vocal booth at Sonic Underground Studios, with an acoustic guitar in hand, learning John Lennon's song "Hold On John". I was fiddling back and forth with a tritone progression (the devil's interval as some uncomplicated, God fearing people used to call it) from C to F# singing Lennon's melody over it. To my ears, it did not quite work, but the rhythm of the words were cool. Eventually, after a few hours of subconscious manipulation I carved out my own melody that had no connection with "Hold On John". I added some lyrics to it about lovers and lawyers (a marriage concept). The song remained a somewhat unfinished idea residing on one of a hundred cassettes. No chorus. This was in late 1996. In the middle of 1997 this cassette emerged again and I stumbled on this idea I had by that time, totally forgotten about. I worked on it some more. I solidified a stable form and a decent melody but the words still weren't jelling. I flipped through the file cabinets of my mind under songwriting collaborations. After careful consideration it was decided that Donna Bach-Heitner would be the perfect person to help me finish the lyrics. So I called her up and she happily came down to the studio. Within an hour we had a complete set of lyrics. I then proceeded to do a demo of the song, but that's as far as it went. It just sat there on the Macintosh Quadra computer. Occasionally, you could find me strumming an acoustic guitar repeating that tritone chord progression and simple melody and then move on to something else. The song needed to gestate. Anyway...
Cut to a shot of Jesus exploding in midair!
(Inside joke)
The month was December of 1997. Gian DiMauro, Marci Geller and I are singing holiday carols at the historic Three Village Inn in Stony Brook. During a break I started to play and sing this tritone idea on acoustic. I just hummed it.. No words. Gian heard this idea and started to singing along. Meanwhile, I had worked piece meal on a whole production of sorts on this song (yet untitled) that incorporated this tritone chord progression and it's verse melody. It had "Lovers and Lawyers" lyrics, twisted violin lines and a vacuum cleaner noise in it. Simultaneously, Gian and I came up with the"Rudolph Don't Burn Out Your Red Nose" concept and the Christmas aspect of the song quickly took shape. We ended up using the "Lovers and Lawyers" verse melody and filled out the rest with new ideas. We finished the production in a week, along with another song called "Christmas, And I Am Not Afraid". All this, just in time for a December 25th premiere at the Gian's parents house.
A few months later while I was working on my cheesy Casio CD, "Dryer Than You'll Ever Be", I went back to the "Lovers and Lawyers" piece with all the weird production and in a fit of imaginary anger, I re-wrote the lyrics and the melody. Hence, was born the song, "Poor Freak Rudy". If you listen to the solo on this particular tune, it actually quotes "Rudolph Don't Burn Out Your Red Nose".
Note:
The actual ending of "Rudolph Don't Burn Out Your Red Nose" goes on quite a bit after it's initial fade. This wacky, madcap outro can be found on the 1999 CD :"Hits Duh Bah Tomb Lion". It's aptly titled "Rudolph's Bottom Line". Now, there is some musical continuity for ya!
lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETP9z0fBJA
RUDOLF DON’T BURN OUT YOUR RED NOSE
Children are buzzing ‘ cause Santa will be coming with toys on his sleigh
Now it snowing
Those drifts are really growing
I hope he finds his way
But what if just gets too bad out
Then there’s just one thing to say and that’s:
Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose!
I said, Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose tonight
Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose!
‘Cause Santa needs your help to save the day
The fire is cracklin’
The popcorn is snapplin’
The lights are on the tree
Mistletoe kissin’
There’s one thing that’s still missin’ but we’re happy as can be
And the snow just keeps on blowin’
So we got to hear you say
Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose!
I said, Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose tonight
Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose!
‘Cause Santa needs your help to save the day
Christmas morning just wouldn’t be the same
without bikes and dolls and games
So Rudolf keep soaring through the blizzardy night....
Oh mush on!
And the snow just keeps on blowin’
I hope Santa finds his way
Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose!
I said, Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose tonight
Rudolf
Don’t burn out your red nose!
‘Cause Santa needs your help to save the day
In Adrian Snood’s songs, soulful vocals and slow-moving alt-pop swirl together to create something distinctly moving. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 1, 2023
