I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – Song Lyrics and Video

This funny Christmas song was written by John Rox and sung by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey. What’s particularly amusing about the “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” song is that the the singer actually DID receive a hippopotamus for Christmas. When the song was released in 1953, it became an instant hit. Wikipedia then says, “a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey’s local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas. The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus,” which she donated to the zoo in Oklahoma City. The hippopotamus, named Matilda, lived for nearly 50 years.

Gayla, meanwhile, went on to record other children’s songs for Columbia, such as “Got A Cold In The Node For Christmas” and “Angel in the Christmas Play”. She also recorded a duet with Columbia’s other child singer Jimmy Boyd (who had the hit recording of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”), entitled “I’m So Glad”, and “Kitty in a Basket”. Later she earned a teaching degree from San Diego State University and then left teaching for a career in advertising.

“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” inspired a book by the same title and it has been recorded by various artists, including the Captain and Tennille and Dr. Demento. There’s even a video on YouTube showing the Jonas Brothers singing “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”

Here’s a video with an original recording of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” and the lyrics are below.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Lyrics
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 vegetarian
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!

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