Creation of “I want a…” for Christmas
Just a few years ago I first heard a Christmas song that now always makes me smile. This crazy little song, sung by Gayla Peevy, drove a whole line of “I want a …. for Christmas” designs in my store. There are currently 15 designs with Orcas, dogs, and other animals people may want for Christmas.
Below you can see the original “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas“ design and the newer red and green.
This popular Christmas song was recorded in 1953 when Gayla Peevey was just 10 years old. Gayla was a star in the Oklahoma City area when a local promoter picked up the song. The Oklahoma City Zoo wanted to get a Hippopotamus.
Together they launched a campaign to present Gayla Peevey with a Hippopotamus. And sure enough, with this Christmas Novelty song, she got a baby Hippopotamus named Matilda, which Gayla donated to the zoo.
“Hippopotamus for Christmas” is also a popular Dr Demento hit.
I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Lyrics Written by John Rox
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 rhinosauruses
I only likes 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, 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 rhinosauruseses
I only likes hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me, too
This entry was posted on Saturday, December 15th, 2007 at 3:35 am and is filed under Our Story, Popular Designs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.