"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

Only a hippopotamus will do

I don't want a doll, no dinkey tinker toys

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, 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 rhinosaurus

I only likes hippopotamuses [sic]

And hippopotamuses [sic] 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."