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.
Merry Marry Christmas
Dr. Elmo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way you can light up the whole wide world with your pleasant eyes
It's the way you smile, the way you talk, and the way I feel
It feels so real
It feels so real
So I say Hey
Merry Christmas
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
Merry Christmas
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
On the first day that I met you
You lit up my whole wide world
Imagine the big city boy, in love with the small town girl
All by my own, it's the 25th
All by my lone' I reminisce, the first kiss
And I swear, that I do care
You got me thinking in my head, will there ever be love in the air
So I say Hey
Merry Christmas
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
So I say Hey
Merry Christmas
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
So I say Hey
Merry Christmas
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
So I say Hey
Merry Christmas
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
All I ever is want is you
All I'll ever want is you
In the lyrics of Dr. Elmo's "Merry Marry Christmas," the singer expresses his deep admiration and affection for someone special. The opening lines describe the person's physical attributes, likening their cherry lips to a pleasant surprise and emphasizing the captivating effect of their eyes. The singer finds joy in the way this person smiles, talks, and makes him feel, conveying a sense of genuine connection and authenticity in their relationship. The repeated phrase "It feels so real" underscores the sincerity and depth of the emotions involved, emphasizing the genuine nature of the singer's feelings.
The chorus of the song conveys the singer's simple yet heartfelt Christmas wish – to have this special person in his life. The repeated declaration of "On my wishlist all I ever want is you" reinforces the idea that the singer's greatest desire is to be with the person he holds dear. The holiday season serves as a backdrop for these sentiments, adding a sense of warmth and nostalgia to the singer's declarations of love and longing.
As the lyrics progress, a narrative unfolds about the moment the singer first met this person and how they illuminated his world. The contrast between the big city boy and the small-town girl creates a picturesque image of two seemingly different individuals being drawn together by fate. The reminiscence of their first kiss on Christmas Day evokes a sense of tender nostalgia and highlights the significance of this person in the singer's life.
The closing lines of the song bring the focus back to the singer's unwavering desire for this special person, encapsulating his feelings in the simple yet powerful statement: "All I ever want is you." This repeated refrain reinforces the central theme of the song – the singer's deep, abiding love and longing for this person, encapsulated in his holiday wish for their presence in his life. Overall, "Merry Marry Christmas" conveys a message of love, longing, and the joy of being with someone who lights up one's world.
Line by Line Meaning
Your cherry lips, a nice surprise
The pleasant surprise of your beautiful lips
The way you can light up the whole wide world with your pleasant eyes
The way your eyes have the power to brighten the entire world
It's the way you smile, the way you talk, and the way I feel
The way you smile, speak, and make me feel
It feels so real
The emotions are genuine and authentic
So I say Hey Merry Christmas
Expressing holiday greetings and joy
On my wishlist all I ever want is you
You are all I desire
On the first day that I met you
From the moment we first met
You lit up my whole wide world
You brought light and happiness into my life
Imagine the big city boy, in love with the small town girl
A tale of love between contrasting backgrounds
All by my own, it's the 25th
Alone on Christmas Day
All by my lone' I reminisce, the first kiss
Remembering our first kiss by myself
And I swear, that I do care
Promise of sincere feelings and care
You got me thinking in my head, will there ever be love in the air
Contemplating the possibility of love
All I ever is want is you
You are all I ever need
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jason Ntiamoah
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind