I Want a Hippo (For Christmas) is a festive novelty song that enjoyed unexpected success on its released in 1953.
Who Sings I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas was written by John Rox, a songwriter who had many of his compositions featured in Broadway musicals. However, its success was down to the singer, a 10-year-old girl: Gayla Peevey, is former star who sang I want a hippopotamus for Christmas in 1953.
After selling half a million copies, the local Oklahoma Zoo launched a campaign to get Gayla Peevey a hippopotamus for Christmas: but there was one catch…she had to donate it to them!
The campaign was a success and on Christmas Eve Gayla Peevey was presented with Mathilda, a 2-year-old hippo that arrived by plane. Gayla went to the airport to greet Mathilda and to officially “donate” her to Oklahoma Zoo as planned.
Mathilda was the first hippo to arrive at Oklahoma Zoo and attracted more than 10,000 the following day, on Christmas Day!
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Lyrics
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
I don’t want a doll, no dinky Tinkertoy
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 my 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
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
A hippopotamus is all I want
Mom says the hippo would eat me up
But then teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
The kind I saw this summer at the zoo
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 my hippo hero standing there
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas Song
Sang By Gayla Peevey