The Hippopotamus Song Lyrics
Flanders & Swann
Lyrics
A bold hippopotamus was standing one day
On the banks of the cool Shalimar
He gazed at the bottom as he peacefully lay
By the light of the evening star
Away on the hilltop sat combing her hair
His fair hippopotami maid
The hippopotamus was no ignoramus
And sang her this sweet serenade
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud
The fair hippopotama he aimed to entice
From her seat on that hilltop above
As she hadn't got a ma to give her advice
Came tiptoeing down to her love
Like thunder the forest re-echoed the sound
Of the song that they sang as they met
His inamorata adjusted her garter
And lifted her voice in duet
Kranz, kranz schmoodliger kranz,
Holudshia shretsaca coldliger kranz
Heckvas lees fer you dawgo
Follow me follow
Begeelio bedabo
Down to the hollow
Wenyou taub me aput in some true gulio kranz
That will prove our cultural relations.
Now more hippopotami began to convene
On the banks of that river so wide
I wonder now what am I to say of the scene
That ensued by the Shalimar side
They dived all at once with an ear-splitting sposh
Then rose to the surface again
A regular army of hippopotami
All singing this haunting refrain
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let us wallow in glorious mud
Song & Lyrics Facts
Flanders & Swann's "The Hippopotamus Song" is a comedic song about the hippo, written by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann. It was released in 1959 on their album At The Drop Of A Hat.
The lyrics were written by Michael Flanders and music composed by Donald Swann. The song tells of how a group of hunters are searching for an elusive hippopotamus, only to find out that it had been hiding in plain sight all along. The band consisted of two members: Michael Flanders (vocals) and Donald Swann (piano). The song became one of the most popular songs from the duo and has since been covered by many other artists over the years. Its humorous lyrics have made it a favorite among children and adults alike.