Last Minute Gift Idea

You can’t get everything you want for Christmas, but there is still time to get something that has been unavailable for over 40 years. If you or someone you love is musically inclined, a last-minute gift idea is to download “There’s Always Tomorrow” from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. This is the song that Clarice sings to Rudolph when all the other reindeer make fun of his red nose.

What makes this song so special and sought after 40 years? First, the words and theme are timeless. We have all had times in out lives when we were made fun of or couldn’t get what we wanted. What this short song did in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in 1964 was remind us then as now, that even in disappointments, there is always tomorrow for dreams to come true.

Johnny Marks wrote lots of Christmas songs including “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, ” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” was written in 1949, based upon the story that Robert May, Johnny Marks’ brother-in-law, wrote for Montgomery Ward, as a free holiday booklet for children who came in the store. Then in 1964 a holiday movie was made based on the story, and “There’s Always Tomorrow” debuted to the public.

“There’s Always Tomorrow” was never considered a serious holiday song, and as such was left out of many standard Christmas publications. But it is the most sought-after song on internet searches and in music libraries but was unfortunately unavailable and out of print. Many musicians had to pick it out by ear or listen and write an arrangement of the song. Even the New York Public Library that has one of the largest selections of musical literature and song copies did not have a copy of “There’s Always Tomorrow” in their archives.

“There’s Always Tomorrow” is made possible from Lilly Schoolhouse, a 1912, historic schoolhouse in Lilly, Georgia. The schoolhouse cat, Miss Kitty, writes to anyone who writes her back about the song.