I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Only a hippopotamus will do

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 a 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 rhinosauruses

I only like hippopotamuses

And hippopotamuses like me, too

Mom says a 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 rhinosauruseses

I only like hippopotamuseses

And hippopotamuses like me, too

• Artist:Gayla Peevey