The Novelty of Christmas Songs Quiz

Answer: tickled him

In 1952, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" reached #1 on the Billboard chart. Jimmy Boyd recorded the song when he was a month away from turning 13 years old.

"I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, Underneath the mistletoe last night, She didn't see me creep, Down the stairs to have a peep, She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus, Underneath his beard so snowy white, Oh, what a laugh it would have been, If Daddy had only seen, Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night."

Answer: snitched on him

The most popular version of "Nuttin' for Christmas" was sung by 7 year-old Barry Gordon and written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett. It became an instant hit in 1955, peaking at #6 on the Billboard charts.

"I broke my bat on Johnny's head, Somebody snitched on me, I hid a frog in sister's bed, Somebody snitched on me, I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug, I made Tommy eat a bug, Bought some gum with a penny slug, Somebody snitched on me.
I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas, Mommy and Daddy are mad, I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas, 'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.
I put a tack on teacher's chair, Somebody snitched on me, I tied a knot in Susie's hair, Somebody snitched on me, I did a dance on Mommy's plants, Climbed a tree and tore my pants, Filled the sugar bowl with ants, Somebody snitched on me."

Answer: Two Front Teeth

In 1944, it took Donald Yetter Gardner just 30 minutes to write the lyrics to, "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth". Being a music teacher, he asked his students what they wanted for Christmas, and when they answered him, he realized almost all of them had at least one front tooth missing. The song was originally recorded on December 6, 1948 by Spike Jones & his City Slickers with lead vocals by George Rock.

"Everybody stops and stares at me, These two teeth are gone as you can see, I don't know just who to blame for this catastrophe, But my one wish on Christmas Eve is as plain as it can be.
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, My two front teeth, See my two front teeth, Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth, Then I could wish you 'Merry Christmas'.
It seems so long since I could say, 'Sister Susie sitting on a thistle', Gosh oh gee, how happy I'd be, If I could only whistle."

Answer: ten lords-a-leaping

The twelve days of Christmas are from December 25 (as most assume, the birth of Christ), through January 6 (the coming of the Magi).
Referred to as an English song, evidence indicates that the song actually is French in origin.
It's been noted that a 'pear tree' is in fact supposed to be the French word, perdrix, (pronounced per-dree), and was misinterpreted as 'pear tree'. Also, 'four calling birds' was originally 'four colly birds', and 'five golden rings' refers to ring-necked birds, not rings you would wear on your finger. Therefore, the first seven gifts would all be some sort of bird.

According to Wikipedia's 'Christmas Price Index', (maintained by the U.S. bank PNC Financial Services), in 2008, to have every item on this list would cost an estimated $86,560!

The most popular U.S. variation is:
"On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree."

Answer: Grandma

"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" was written by Randy Brooks, and originally performed by Elmo and Patsy Shropshire in 1979.

"Grandma got run over by a reindeer, Walking home from our house Christmas Eve, You can say there's no such thing as Santa, But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
She'd been drinking too much eggnog, And we begged her not to go, But she forgot her medication, And she staggered out the door into the snow.
When we found her Christmas morning, At the scene of the attack, she had hoof prints on her forehead, And incriminating Claus marks on her back.
Now we're all so proud of Grandpa, He's been taking this so well, See him in there watching football, Drinking beer and playing cards with cousin Mel.
It's not Christmas without Grandma, All the family's dressed in black, And we just can't help but wonder, Should we open up her gifts or send them back?
Now the goose is on the table, And the pudding made of fig, And the blue and silver candles, That would just have matched the hair in Grandma's wig.
I've warned all my friends and neighbors, Better watch out for yourselves, They should never give a license, To a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves."

Answer: Hippopotamus

Written by John Rox and recorded by 10 year-old Gayla Peevey, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" was a hit in 1953. Rumor has it that it was recorded so the local city zoo in Oklahoma City could raise money to get a hippo, however, in a 2005 interview, Gayla said that it wasn't until the song became popular that a campaign was put forth to present her with a hippopotamus. Fortunately, it was a success and she received a hippo (named Matilda), which she donated to the zoo.

"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 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 hippopotamuses, And hippopotamuses like me too.
Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then, Teacher says a hippo is a vegeterian, 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."

Answer: a hula-hoop

Reaching #1 on the Billboard chart, "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", was written (and sung) by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (aka David Seville) in 1958.

Dave says, "Alright you Chipmunks, ready to sing your song?" Alvin says, "I'd say we are." Theodore says, "Yeah, let's sing it now!" Dave asks, "Okay, Simon?" Simon says, "Okay!" Dave asks, "Okay, Theodore?" Theodore says, "Okay!" Dave asks, "Okay Alvin? Alvin? Alvin!" Alvin says, "Okay!"
"Christmas, Christmas time is near, Time for toys and time for cheer, We've been good, but we can't last, Hurry Christmas, Hurry fast, Want a plane that loops the loop", (Alvin says, 'Me, I want a Hula-Hoop'), "We can hardly stand the wait, Please Christmas don't be late."
Dave says, "Okay fellas, get ready. That was very good, Simon." Simon says, "Naturally!" Dave says, "Very good Theodore." Theodore giggles. Dave says, "Uh Alvin, you were a little flat, so, watch it. Alvin. Alvin? Alvin!" Alvin says, "Okay!"
"Want a plane that loops the loop", (Alvin says, 'I still want a Hula-Hoop'), "We can hardly stand the wait, Please Christmas don't be late, We can hardly stand the wait, Please Christmas don't be late."
Dave says, "Very good boys." One of the chipmunks says, "Let's sing it again!" Another one says, "Yeah, let's sing it again!" Dave says, "No, that's enough. Let's not over do it." One of the chipmunks asks, "What do you mean 'over do it'? We wanna sing it again!" Dave says, "Now wait a minute boys."
The song fades out as they begin to argue.

Answer: The Red Baron

A sequel to "Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron", "Snoopy's Christmas" has Snoopy had going out to fight the Red Baron on Christmas Eve. However, the two called a truce that night and ended up sharing a holiday toast and then go their separate ways, 'each knowing they'd meet on some other day'.

"The news had come out in the First World War, The bloody Red Baron was flying once more, The Allied command ignored all of its men, And called on Snoopy to do it again.
Twas the night before Christmas, 40 below, When Snoopy went up in search of his foe, He spied the Red Baron, fiercely they fought, With ice on his wings Snoopy knew he was caught.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells, Ring out from the land, Asking peace of all the world, And good will to man.
The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights, He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight, Why he didn't shoot, well, we'll never know, Or was it the bells from the village below.
The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine, And forced him to land behind the enemy lines, Snoopy was certain that this was the end, When the Baron cried out, 'Merry Christmas, my friend'.
The Baron then offered a holiday toast, And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host, And then with a roar they were both on their way, Each knowing they'd meet on some other day."

Answer: He's made all of these.

Bob Rivers released a CD titled, "Twisted Christmas" that was full of Christmas parodies, including: "The Chimney Song", "Wreck the Malls", "A Visit From St. Nicholson" and "O Come All Ye Grateful Deadheads".

"We Wish You Weren't Living With Us", (parody of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"):
"We wish you weren't living with us, We wish you weren't living with us, We wish you weren't living with us, We're not happy you're here.
You drive everybody crazy, You're hopelessly fat and lazy, You're constantly in the way here, So pack up your gear, Get out!
You're feeding you face, You're taking up space, We wish you weren't living with us, We're not happy you're here, Close the refrigerator!
Correct us if we're mistaken, But those are ling distance calls you're makin', How long do you plan on takin', Advantage of us, Pay up!
We wish you weren't living with us, We wish you weren't living with us, We wish you weren't living with us, Get out of town, Now!"

"Shoppin' Around For a Christmas Tree", (parody of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"):
"Shoppin' around for a Christmas tree, At the grocery parking lot, Every thing over 4 foot 3, Is about hundred bucks a pop, Schlepin' around for a Christmas tree, And I still haven't found a thing, In a trailer I met some drunken guy, And we did some haggling.
People get that ornamental feelin' every year, Mom's and Dad's and kids all happy, Till they get their hands all scratched and sappy.
Shoppin' around for Christmas trees, What a crappy holiday, Today they smell so fresh and green, They'll be dead on Christmas Day.
You will get that ornamental feeling every year, When you find a tree that looks real jolly, If you turn it round, it's as brown as Charlie's,
Choppin' down my Christmas tree, In a true old-fashioned way, Toppin' it off with a Spotted Owl, And make a hasty get away."

"Yellow Snow! Yellow Snow! Yellow Snow!", (parody of "Let it Snow"):
"Oh, the weather outside was whitening, 'Til the dog did something frightening, He's got no other place to go, Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow.
And he doesn't show signs of stopping, As he sniffs around his dropping, You see him everywhere you go, In the snow, yellow snow, yellow snow.
When he finally goes outside, He'll be frolicking 'round in the storm, He'll be marking our yard with pride, You can tell by the steam that it's warm.
When the snow begins it's thawing, It reveals those puppy drawings, He's a frisky little pooch van Gogh, Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow.
He'll be marking our yard with pride, You can tell by the steam that it's warm, Well, he's happy and his tail starts waggin', But the snowman's left side is saggin', There's a little puddle right below, Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow.
Little patches of yellow snow, Yellow snow, Little patches of where Fido goes."

Answer: Yes

"Twisted Christmas" was released in the U.S on October 25, 1990, on the Atlantic label.

"The Restroom Door Said, 'Gentlemen'", (parody of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"):
"The restroom door said, 'gentlemen', So I just walked inside, I took two steps and realized, I'd been taken for a ride, I heard high voices turned and found, The place was occupied, By two nuns, three old ladies and a nurse, What could be worse, Than two nuns, three old ladies and a nurse?
The restroom door said gentlemen, It must have been a gag, As soon as I walked in there, I ran into some old hag, She sprayed me with a can of mace, And smacked me with her bag,
I could tell this just wouldn't be my day, What can I say?, It was just turning out to be day.
The restroom door said gentlemen, And I would like to find, The crummy little creep who had the nerve, To switch the signs, 'Cause I got two black eyes, And one high heel up my behind,
Now I can't sit with comfort and joy, Boy oh boy, No I'll never sit with comfort and joy."