# That lousy "I want a hippopotomus for Christmas" song **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 1999, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512 "1999-12-20T19:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![counterattackii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@counterattackii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counterattackii)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/1 "1999-12-20T19:18:00Z")
I cannot go by one single day without hearing that highly annoying, yet highly addicting song! Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone even know who SINGS the darned song? _Looks down to make sure gun is pointed away from foot…_ -Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s just another way of shooting yourself in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 1999, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/2 "1999-12-20T23:53:00Z")
I only know that I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do. No crocodiles, no rhinocerusses, I only like hippopotamusses. (And hippopotamusses like me too.) * * * The truth, as always, is more complicated than that. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/3 "1999-12-21T01:49:00Z")
I’m thrilled to report that I’ve never heard that song. I would, however, love a hippopotomus for Christmas. Thanks! Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Click here for some GOOD news for a change](http://www.binghamtonpress.com/binghamtonnews/local/Sanews5.html)[Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/4 "1999-12-21T04:16:00Z")
Can I get a dugong for Kwaanza? * * * If I wanted smoke blown up my ass, I’d be at home with a pack of cigarettes and a short length of hose. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/5 "1999-12-21T13:55:00Z")
Peter MacNichol sang it on an episode of “Ally McBeal” last year. Other than that, I’ve never heard it. ---
**Author:** ![MOJO\_LIZARD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MOJO\_LIZARD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOJO_LIZARD)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 1999, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/6 "1999-12-23T04:01:00Z")
Where can I here this song? Where can I get it ? * * * STAY STRONG ---
**Author:** ![counterattackii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@counterattackii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counterattackii)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 1999, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/7 "1999-12-23T04:53:00Z")
I will email it to you (as a .wav) if you wish. Just send me an email saying you want it. - Wash, Rinse, Maim. ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/8 "1999-12-28T20:46:00Z")
My brother actually did get a hippopotamus for christmas. A small plush one. There’s a semi-funny family story behind the opening of that gift. My other brother (the one who was doing the giving) has recently taken to making rather random statements for fun, sorta like Stephen Wright on prozac (Examples: "Monkey es enfuego! written on a kleenex box with English translation on the other side; “Who called me Earl?” his name is Greg; “Lucky bastard with your bat wings”: I don’t have a clue where that came from). Anyway, on Christmas morning as Scott (the hippo recipient) was opening gifts, he stacked the hippo package on top of another one. Greg blurts out “At least Scott can’t save the Hippo!” and then trails off. Greg turns bright red from embarrassment. I and my brother dismiss it as random. But just a few minutes later, he opens the box, and there’s a hippo. I guess you had to be there. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 1999, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-lousy-i-want-a-hippopotomus-for-christmas-song/3512/9 "1999-12-30T08:26:00Z")
As to where the song comes from, the first recording was made in 1953 by **Gayla Peevey**. Anyways, that’s what the liner notes from _Dr. Demento presents The Greatest Christmas Novelty CD Of All Time_ tell me. (Rhino Records catalog # R2 75755) * * * Of course truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense. Mark Twain