The Oklahoma City Zoo capitalized upon the popularity of the song in 1953 through a fund raising campaign to "buy a hippo for Gayla" in order to bring a hippo to the zoo. (They had no hippopotamus at the time.) The song raised $3,000. A baby hippo, named Matilda, was procured and flown in to Oklahoma City and presented by Peevey to the zoo.
Gayla went on to record other children's songs for Columbia, such as Got a Cold In the Node For Christmas and Angel in the Christmas Play. She also recorded a duet with Columbia's other child singer Jimmy Boyd (who had the hit recording of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus), entitled "I'm So Glad", and "Kitty in a Basket".
In 1959, Gayla Peevey adopted the pseudonym Jamie Horton and recorded a series of pop singles for Joy Records. One of them, My Little Marine, reached a peak position of #84 in 1960 and was song #507 for that year. It was her only song that reached the Charts. Under the pseudonym, she also recorded Robot Man which was popular in Australia in 1960, and was later recorded by Connie Francis.
She graduated from San Diego State University, and received a teaching degree. She left teaching and went into advertising, where she owned her own firm for 15 years.
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Gayla Peevey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinkey tinker toy
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
That's the easy thing to do
I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and 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 crocodile, no rhinosauruses
I only like 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 and 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 crocodile, or rhinosauruseses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too
The song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey is a fun and catchy holiday tune that has become a classic over time. The lyrics in the song are from the perspective of a child who is hopeful to receive a hippopotamus as a gift from Santa Claus for Christmas. The child states that she doesn't want any other toy or gift, but only a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy. In the song, the child expresses her certainty that Santa Claus won't mind bringing the hippopotamus through the front door instead of using the dirty chimney flue.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the child's anticipation for Christmas morning and describes how she imagines the experience of walking down the stairs and being surprised by the hippopotamus waiting beneath the tree. The song then addresses the child's fears about owning a hippopotamus and how her mother warned her that the animal would eat her up. However, the child's teacher reassured her that a hippopotamus is a vegetarian. The song ends with the child reaffirming her love for hippopotamuses and stating that they like her too.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted and fun way to express the joys of the holiday season, particularly for children who are filled with anticipation and wonder. It highlights the joy of receiving the perfect gift and the imagination of a child who can envision owning such a fantastical animal.
Line by Line Meaning
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I desire to have a hippopotamus as a gift for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
I am not interested in receiving any other gift as a substitute for a hippopotamus
Don't want a doll, no dinkey tinker toy
I do not want any toy that is not a hippopotamus
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy
I want to have a hippopotamus as a playmate and to have fun with
I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
I believe that Santa Claus will not have a problem with bringing me a hippopotamus
He won't have to use a dirty chimney flue
Santa Claus will not have to use the chimney to bring the hippopotamus to me
Just bring him through the front door
Santa Claus can simply bring the hippopotamus through the front door
I can see me now on Christmas morning
I can imagine myself on Christmas day
Creeping down the stairs
Sneaking down the stairs to see my gift
Oh what joy and what surprise
The feeling of happiness and excitement I will have
When I open up my eyes
When I see my gift
To see a hippo hero standing there
To see a hippopotamus, my hero, standing there
No crocodile, no rhinosauruses
I do not want a crocodile or rhinosauruses as gifts, only a hippopotamus
I only like hippopotamuses
I like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too
Hippopotamuses also like me
Mom says a hippo, would eat me up but then
My mother says that a hippopotamus may harm me
Teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian
My teacher says that hippos only eat plants, so they wouldn't harm me
There's lots of room for him in our two-car garage
We have plenty of space in our two-car garage to keep the hippopotamus
I'd feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage
I would take care of the hippopotamus in the garage by feeding him, washing him, and giving him a massage
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John Rox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertchesnosky3508
THAT CHILD HAD THE MOST INCREDIBLE VOCAL CONTROL AND STYLE!! SIMPLY AMAZING. A ONE OF A KIND. GAYLA YOU GAVE US A CLASSIC. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
@kimtaylor1174
Hard to believe that this December 15, 2023 this is song is 70 years old! I LOVE THIS SONG! It's howy family knows the Christmas Season is Beginning in our home.❄️😁🌲
@casanova2232
This is truly a classic tune and should be played much more than it is during the festive season,forget Bub'le let's have more Gayla.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HIPPO NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL, BLESSINGS
@Adolla10
True that
😂
@user-bk4bx8sd7h
YOU ARE SOOOOOOO NICEEEEEE
@user-mn4kg3jb4j
I love this classic and fun song! I was born in 1978. I have loved this song since I was 3! Gayla Peevey does a great job! This song truly belongs to her! Thank you for posting and sharing!
@GracelynandCole
Gayla was ten when this was invented on 1953 even my great great grandpa was 10 sadly my great great grandpa died on 2020 from Covid the good news is Gayla is still alive and they are both 80 now
@vickiehovatter4137
I couldn't believe it when I heard this. I'm 77 years old and listened to this song when I was in first and second grades. Her aunt and uncle lived next door to us. There was another song on the flip side...I'm A Little Doll Who Was Dropped and Broken. Thank you for playing this song...GREAT memories.😊😊😃
@lizziesmusicmaking
I really like the orchestration on this song. The bassoon and piccolo work really well. Nice singing too with the hilarious words clearly understandable, and the trumpet fanfare. It's wonderful fun.
@karenworthen
I do too