Standard (EADGBE)

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 en- joy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas; I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?

 He won't have to use our 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 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 crocodiles, no rhinoceroses; I only like hippopota- muses

 And hippopota- muses like me too

(Short Music Interlude)

Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then

Teacher says a hippo is a vegeteri- an

(Short Music Interlude)

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 crocodiles, no rhinoceroseses; I only like hippopota- museses

 And hippopota- muses like me too

END