I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
by 17 people |
Ranked #1,957 in Music, #50,530 overall | Donates to Blood Water Mission
...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
What you'll find here
- Find the Hippopotamus Song on CD
- Movies!
- Lyrics!
- The Hippopotamus Song, performed by The Jonas Brothers
- You've heard the song, but have you read the children's book?
- Flickrpotamuseses?
- Someone didn't want their hippopotamus...
- What, this isn't everything?
- When did you first hear the Hippopotamus song?
Movies!
I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas
Christmas Lights - Hippopotamus for Christmas
Capitol Christmas Tree
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
Coincidence? I think not.
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas--Jonas Brothers
This is a clip od the Jonas Brothers singing I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas! ENJOY!
Runtime: 0:38
26739 views
10 Comments:
You've heard the song, but have you read the children's book?
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Amazon Price: $16.19 (as of 07/10/2009) 
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?
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
What, this isn't everything?
- 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.
Brady wrote
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.
Posted December 26, 2008
Dave_R_B wrote...
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
Posted December 23, 2008
Susan52 wrote...
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!
Posted December 21, 2008
KarenKay wrote...
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!
Posted December 15, 2008
Caravansarai wrote...
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!
Posted December 14, 2008
donna wrote
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!
Posted December 02, 2008
Treasures-By-Brenda wrote...
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.
Posted June 18, 2008
