Gayla Peevey, recorded in 1953; lyrics and music by John Rox
I [G] want a hippopotamus for Christmas; Only a hippopotamus will [D] do. [D7] Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy; I [A] want a hippopotamus to [D7] play with and enjoy. I [G] want a hippopotamus for Christmas; I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do [D] you? He [D7] won't have to use our dirty chimney flue; Just [A] bring him through the front door, that's the [D7] easy thing to [D] do I can [G7] see me now on [C] Christmas morning, [G7] creeping down the [C] stairs. [D7] Oh what joy and what surprise, [G] when I open up my eyes to [A] see a hippo [D] hero standing [D7] there I [G] want a hippopotamus for Christmas; Only a hippopotamus will [D] do. [D7] No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses; [A7] I only like [D7] hippopotamuses [D] and [A7] hippopotamuses [D7] like me [G] too. [Interlude] G G D G G D [D7] Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then [A7] Teacher says a hippo is a [D7] vegeterian [D] [Interlude] G G D G G D There's [D7] lots of room for him in our two-car garage. [A7] I'd feed him there, and wash him there, and [D7] give him a massage [D] I can [G7] see me now on [C] Christmas morning, [G7] creeping down the [C] stairs. [D7] Oh what joy and what surprise, [G] when I open up my eyes to [A] see a hippo [D] hero standing [D7] there I [G] want a hippopotamus for Christmas; Only a hippopotamus will [D] do. [D7] No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses; [A7] I only like [D7] hippopotamuses [D] and [A7] hippopotamuses [D7] like me [G] too.
