I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!

To be honest, I did not know this song. It turned out to be the american equivalent of the dutch song "Flappie" in the 1950s. It came up, during one of my anything-to-do-with-hippos-on-Youtube-searches. And of course Wikipedia already knew it...., telling me that Gayla Peevey made this song famous in 1953, recording it when she was 10 years old. A local promoter used the popularity of the song to launch a campaign "Buy a hippo for Gayla". He raised 3000 USD and bought an actual baby hippopotamus called Matilda, which Gayla donated to the Oklahoma City Zoo. Matilda lived for nearly 50 years. The song is written by John Rox (1902 - 1957). I can't think of anything to add.....it says it all ;-).... Enjoy! Hippo Christmas and Happy New Year!


I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won't have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door,
that's the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too

Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then
Teacher says a hippo is a vegeterian

There's lots of room for him in our two-car garage
I'd feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me too!