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 Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Dr. Elmo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and grandpa we believe
She'd been drinking too much eggnog,
And we begged her not to go
But she forgot her medication
and she staggered out the door into the snow
At the scene of the attack,
She had hoof-prints on her forehead,
And incriminating Claus marks on her back
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Now we're all so proud of grandpa,
He's been taking this so well
See him in there watching football,
Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel
It's not Christmas without Grandma
All the family's dressed in black
And we just can't help but wonder
Should we open up her gifts,
Or send them back (send them back)
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig
And the blue and silver candles
That would just have matched the hair on grandma's wig
I've warned all my friends and neighbors
Better watch out for yourselves,
They should never give a license
To a man who drives a sleigh
And plays with elves
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Singin' grandpa
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
But as for me and grandpa we believe
Merry Christmas
The song "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" by Dr. Elmo tells the story of a grandma who was unfortunately run over by a reindeer while walking home from her family's house on Christmas eve. Despite their disbelief in Santa, the singer and his grandpa still believe in the magic of Christmas. The lyrics explain that grandma had been drinking too much eggnog and forgot to take her medication, which caused her to stumble out the door and into the snow where she was hit by the reindeer. When her family found her on Christmas morning, they saw hoof prints on her forehead and "incriminating Claus marks" on her back.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses how much he and his family miss their grandma, and he wonders if they should open up her gifts or send them back. Despite their loss, the family remains in the Christmas spirit by having a goose on the table, pudding made of fig, and blue and silver candles that would match the color of grandma's wig. The lyrics also include a warning to the singer's friends and neighbors to watch out for themselves and to not give a license to a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves.
Overall, the song is a humorous and lighthearted take on a tragic accident that occurred on a festive night. It reminds us of the importance of family during the holiday season and how even through tragedy, the Christmas spirit can still bring us together.
Line by Line Meaning
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Grandma got hit by a reindeer while returning home on Christmas Eve
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
Grandma was walking back home after spending the evening at our house on Christmas Eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
Some people might not believe in Santa Claus
But as for me and grandpa we believe
But my grandpa and I believe in Santa Claus
She'd been drinking too much eggnog,
Grandma had consumed an excessive amount of eggnog
And we begged her not to go
We asked her not to leave and stay at our house instead
But she forgot her medication
Grandma forgot to take her medication
and she staggered out the door into the snow
As she left the house, she was wobbling and walking unsteadily on the snow
When we found her Christmas morning,
On Christmas morning, we discovered her body
At the scene of the attack,
We found her at the location where she was injured
She had hoof-prints on her forehead,
There were marks left by the reindeer's hooves on her forehead
And incriminating Claus marks on her back
There were marks on her back that made us suspect that Santa Claus was involved in the incident
Now we're all so proud of grandpa,
We're proud of my grandpa for staying strong through this difficult time
He's been taking this so well
He's handling this situation with maturity and composure
See him in there watching football,
He's inside, watching football
Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel
He's drinking beer and playing cards with his cousin Mel
It's not Christmas without Grandma
Christmas doesn't feel complete without Grandma being present
All the family's dressed in black
All of us are wearing black clothes as a symbol of mourning for Grandma
And we just can't help but wonder
We can't help but think
Should we open up her gifts,
We're not sure whether we should open the Christmas presents that she left behind
Or send them back (send them back)
Or send them back to their respective senders
Now the goose is on the table
The goose dish is placed on the dining table
And the pudding made of fig
There's a fig pudding on the table
And the blue and silver candles
There are blue and silver candles that would have matched Grandma's wig
That would just have matched the hair on grandma's wig
These candles would have been a perfect match for Grandma's wig
I've warned all my friends and neighbors
I've advised my friends and neighbors
Better watch out for yourselves,
They should be careful
They should never give a license
They should never give permission
To a man who drives a sleigh
To someone who drives a sleigh
And plays with elves
And also claims to play with elves
Singin' grandpa
Grandpa is singing along as we all repeat the chorus
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Grandma got hit by a reindeer while returning home on Christmas Eve
Walking home from our house Christmas eve
Grandma was walking back home after spending the evening at our house on Christmas Eve
You can say there's no such thing as Santa
Some people might not believe in Santa Claus
But as for me and grandpa we believe
But my grandpa and I believe in Santa Claus
Merry Christmas
A joyous greeting for the Christmas season
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RANDY BROOKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind