I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Only a hippopotamus will do Don't want a doll, no dinky 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 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 a joy and 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 rhinoceroses 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 a massage I can see me now on Christmas morning Creeping down the stairs Oh what a joy and what surprise When I opened up my eyes To see a hippo hero standing there Oh, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Only a hippopotamus will do No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses I only likes hippopotamuseses And hippopotamuses like me, too