After earning a veterinary medicine degree at Auburn University, Dr. Elmo was a veterinarian at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga racetracks in New York. He later moved to San Francisco's Bay Area to open his own animal hospital and while moonlighting playing festivals and clubs in a bluegrass band.
In 1979, he introduced 'Grandma' on a San Francisco radio station. It quickly became a regional hit. Dr. Elmo began playing more holiday gigs around town to support the single. When an activist group, The Gray Panthers, accused him of playing 'ageist music' and showed up to picket one of his shows, the media came out in force, drawing the attention of major labels.
In 1983, MTV began airing the self financed video. A year later Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer album appeared on Epic and a new 'Grandma' single was released, this time with 'Percy, the Puny Poinsettia' as the B-side.
Dr. Elmo released Twisted Tunes in 1991. Numerous holiday albums would follow, with Dr. Elmo releasing his own Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer album in 2002 on SonyBMG. Dr. Elmo added a Halloween hit to his repertoire in 2006 with the title track to his Redneck Dracula album. In 2007 he released Redneck Santa, in 2009 he released Wild Bluegrass with his band Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue. In 2010 Time Life releases Dr. Elmo's Bluegrass Christmas . Most of Dr. Elmo's songs are co-written by Rita Abrams. Pop historians might remember Rita as the Miss Abrams in Miss Abrams and the Strawberry Point 4th Grade Class, the act behind the 1972 hit 'Mill Valley.'
Dr. Elmo currently tours with his bluegrass band, Wild Blue and each holiday season he conducts a media and concert tour in conjunction with the "Grandma" song.
Grandma's Spending Christmas with the Superstars
Dr. Elmo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since that reindeer ran her down that fateful night.
Grandma's hanging out with all those late, great stars
For the heavenliest Christmas of her life.
She′s standing under the mistletoe with Elvis.
He's been consoling her, because she's missing Gramps.
Then Elvis offers her the keys to a new Cadillac
Grandma′s spending Christmas with the superstars
Since that reindeer ran her down that fateful night.
Grandma′s hanging out with all those late, great stars
For the heavenliest Christmas of her life.
She Christmas shopping at the mall with Marilyn Monroe.
They like to schmooze about how men have done 'em wrong.
And Marilyn says this "women′s lib" thing sounds just super,
"But I'm just glad it didn′t hit 'till I was gone."
Grandma′s spending Christmas with the superstars
Since that reindeer ran her down that fateful night.
Grandma's hanging out with all those late, great stars
For the heavenliest Christmas of her life.
(Spoken) Oh, look! Grandma's trying to comb someone′s hair. Why, it′s Bob Marley!
And look here! She's giving Howard Hughes a manicure.
Oh, poor Richard Burton! Tch, tch, tch! She just gave him the news about Elizabeth Taylor Fortensky!
(Sung) Oh, she′s been trimmin' the tree with Liberace. ("Call me Lee!")
He′s got that certain something Grandpa always lacked.
But when she opens up his gift and sees a full-length mink,
She says, "If it ain't fake, I′ll have to send it back!" (Send it back!)
Grandma's spending Christmas with the superstars
Since that reindeer ran her down that fateful night.
Grandma's hanging out with all those late, great stars
For the heavenliest Christmas of her life.
Sing it, superstars!
Grandma′s spending Christmas with the superstars
Since that reindeer ran her down that fateful night.
Grandma′s hanging out with all those late, great stars
For the heavenliest Christmas of her life
The song "Grandma's Spending Christmas with the Superstars" by Dr. Elmo is a humorous take on the idea of an afterlife where one gets to spend Christmas with all the late, great stars. The song tells the story of how Grandma was run down by a reindeer one fateful night, which led her to spend Christmas among the stars. In this mystical afterlife world, she spends time with some of the most iconic figures in the entertainment industry, such as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley, Howard Hughes, Richard Burton, and Liberace.
The lyrics are funny, and the song is ultimately a lighthearted take on the idea of heaven. The lyrics are full of pop culture references, and the song provides an interesting commentary on how different celebrities view the world. For example, Marilyn Monroe says that the women's liberation movement is "just super," but she's glad she's not around to see the full effects of it. The song is highly entertaining and shows how music can be used to tell stories.
Overall, "Grandma's Spending Christmas with the Superstars" is a fun and light-hearted song that tells a story about an afterlife where one can hang out with all the iconic figures in entertainment history. The song's humor, pop culture references, and storytelling make it an entertaining listen.
Line by Line Meaning
Grandma's spending Christmas with the superstars
Grandma has passed away, and in heaven, she is celebrating Christmas with other famous deceased celebrities.
Since that reindeer ran her down that fateful night.
Grandma had been hit by a reindeer and had passed away.
Grandma's hanging out with all those late, great stars
Grandma is socializing and enjoying the company of many famous musicians and celebrities who have passed away.
For the heavenliest Christmas of her life.
Grandma is experiencing the most beautiful and heavenly Christmas celebration since she is spending it with her favorite celebrities.
She's standing under the mistletoe with Elvis.
Grandma is kissing under the mistletoe with Elvis Presley in heaven.
He's been consoling her, because she's missing Gramps.
Elvis has been comforting Grandma because she misses her husband, Gramps.
Well, oh, well, oh, and a couple of sheets of Elvis postage stamps.
Elvis gifts Grandma with a new Cadillac and two sheets of Elvis postage stamps.
She Christmas shopping at the mall with Marilyn Monroe.
Grandma is going shopping with Marilyn Monroe in heaven.
They like to schmooze about how men have done 'em wrong.
Grandma and Marilyn talk about how men have treated them unfairly in their past lives.
And Marilyn says this "women′s lib" thing sounds just super,
Marilyn expresses her support for the women's liberation movement, even though she had not experienced it during her lifetime.
"But I'm just glad it didn′t hit 'till I was gone."
Marilyn is grateful that she did not have to live through the fight for women's rights during her lifetime.
Oh, look! Grandma's trying to comb someone′s hair. Why, it′s Bob Marley!
Grandma is grooming Bob Marley's hair in heaven.
And look here! She's giving Howard Hughes a manicure.
Grandma is doing Howard Hughes' nails in heaven.
Oh, poor Richard Burton! Tch, tch, tch! She just gave him the news about Elizabeth Taylor Fortensky!
Grandma breaks the sad news of Elizabeth Taylor's marriage to Fortensky to Richard Burton in heaven.
Oh, she′s been trimmin' the tree with Liberace. ("Call me Lee!")
Grandma is decorating the Christmas tree with Liberace in heaven.
He′s got that certain something Grandpa always lacked.
Liberace has a flamboyant and unique personality that Grandma's husband Gramps never possessed.
But when she opens up his gift and sees a full-length mink,
Liberace gifts Grandma with a full-length mink coat.
She says, "If it ain't fake, I′ll have to send it back!" (Send it back!)
Grandma likes the coat, but if it's real fur, she will return it because she is against animal cruelty.
Sing it, superstars!
The singer urges the deceased celebrities to sing and enjoy Christmas with Grandma in heaven.
Writer(s): Elmo Earl Shropshire, Rita Abrams
Contributed by Leo T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.