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I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Ranked #12,690 in Music, #348,723 overall

...only a hippopotamus will do...

Talk about a sleeper hit! First performed by Gayla Peevey (a.k.a. Jamie Horton) in 1953, this novelty Christmas song has been largely forgotten for nearly fifty years! Now that it's been rediscovered, though, you can find it on CDs and MP3s... and you can even find fan-made tributes on YouTube!

Here's what I've found to be the cream of the crop:

Find the Hippopotamus Song on CD

If you're looking for a CD with the Hippopotamus song, look no further than these albums:
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What you'll find here

  1. Find the Hippopotamus Song on CD
  2. Movies!
  3. Lyrics!
  4. The Hippopotamus Song, performed by The Jonas Brothers
  5. You've heard the song, but have you read the children's book?
  6. Someone didn't want their hippopotamus...
  7. What, this isn't everything?
  8. When did you first hear the Hippopotamus song?

Movies!

Here's some stuff I found on YouTube... apparently these guys are behind a lot of the recent reinvigoration, because there's all over YouTube singing it in concert footage.
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Lyrics!

You can find these at the HippoFAQ, but I've put the lyrics right here for your convenience!

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!

The Hippopotamus Song, performed by The Jonas Brothers

When I started this lens in December 2006, the Jonas Bros. weren't very popular. This video (showing their rendition of the song) went up on YouTube, and within months the boys were all over teen magazines.

Coincidence? I think not.
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You've heard the song, but have you read the children's book?

Yup, that's right: a children's book was written that's based on the song. Now you and your kids can snuggle up by the fireplace and relive the tale of the little girl who wanted a jungle beast for the holidays...
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Someone didn't want their hippopotamus...

and that means you can get it!

Here's some nice deals on eBay--how do you like *your* hippopotamus?
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What, this isn't everything?

I can't cover everything about the song--but I can point to others to fill in the gaps!
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the song: Who's singing in the original? Was the song commissioned for a zoo's effort to acquire a hippo?

When did you first hear the Hippopotamus song?

For the youngest generation, we may have the Jonas Bros to thank!

Most of what I've read on this song is tied in some way to these guys: the Jonas Bros.



You see, in 2006 they added I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas to their concert set for the Radio Disney Jingle Jam. (There's nearly 100 movies on YouTube featuring their rendition!)



Soon thereafter, the Jonas Bros. rocketed into stardom. Yet another stunning example of the power of this little song? You be the judge of that.

  • Stephanie Sep 3, 2009 @ 5:57 pm | delete
    This is my favorite Xmas song!!! My kids even favor it, playing it over, and over, and over again!
  • Joan4 Dec 30, 2008 @ 11:33 am | delete
    Wow! One of my favorite songs ever! Thank you!
  • Brady Dec 26, 2008 @ 10:30 pm | delete
    I've only started hearing the song in the past couple of years, but Gayla had an awesome voice for a 10 year-old. Mismanagement must have hosed up her career.
    I thought it was an adult singing with a kids voice.
  • Dave_R_B Dec 23, 2008 @ 11:42 am | delete
    Totally unheard of over here in the UK...still someone's added it my Xmas Vote vid list. It's a kinda cute song but over here Cliff rules Xmas
  • Susan52 Dec 21, 2008 @ 7:07 am | delete
    I first heard the song when it came out, and I wanted a hippopotamus for Christmas! On Christmas morning, that's the first thing I asked about. Not sure how I knew what a hippopotamus looked like, but when I didn't see one under the tree, I asked, "Where's my hippopotamus?" I was a very precocious 1 1/2-year-old! Enjoyed the lens. SquidAngel blessings for the great memories!
  • KarenKay Dec 15, 2008 @ 1:46 pm | delete
    I heard a pretty old version, don't know if it was the original. Female voice kind of "Cindy Lauper" ish, but way before her time.

    Around the same time as "two front teeth"....

    Fun lens!
  • Caravansarai Dec 14, 2008 @ 12:58 pm | delete
    I remember this song from my childhood and was thrilled to hear it being given air time again. Thanks for sharing such a fun lens!
  • love4free Dec 5, 2008 @ 11:48 am | delete
    Great lens.. funny
  • donna Dec 2, 2008 @ 3:27 pm | delete
    A local oldies AM station in Chicago had been playing "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" every Christmas since they went on the air. When the station changed its format a couple of years ago (booooring talk radio) I thought I'd never hear it again. Lo and behold I heard it on an FM station here in Chicago just yesterday, and was thrilled! When I googled the song title and found so many hits, I was flabbergasted! I love the song, and can just imagine some little kid standing on a stage somewhere with a big grin on her face belting out this song. Keep it coming!
  • Treasures-By-Brenda Jun 18, 2008 @ 10:05 am | delete
    Fun lens -- last year we searched for information on this song! I am going to lensroll your lens to my Christmas music lens. Thanks for a great link.
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seitler

My whole family has fallen in love with the song, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.

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