A few years ago, Kenny and I used Thanksgiving Break as travel time. I got to see “Wicked”, only the best musical in the world, and Kenny got to re visit St. Louis, the site of his graduate school years.
One afternoon we were running around Union station, the train depot turned mall, when I heard it.  A small voice was singing “I want a _________ for Christmas”. Try as I might, I couldn’t figure out just who the singer was or what they wanted Santa to bring them.
Google had the answer, as Google almost always does. The song is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and yes, it is an actual recording. Since first hearing it, the song floats in and out of my thoughts, especially around the holidays.
I don’t know how to put up recordings, so you’ll have to make do with the lyrics.
Please enjoy this Christmas classic (done by Gayla Peevey):
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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!
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