“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” was written by Randy Brooks, and originally performed by husband-and-wife duo Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979. Brooks played the song while he was performing with Elmo and Patsy at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe in December 1978. After the show, Elmo and Patsy requested a cassette of the song, and a year later they were performing the song on stage, with Elmo dressed in drag as “Grandma.”
In the lyrical version, Grandma doesn’t live, but in the music video Grandma manages to survive the reindeer attack and falls through the chimney. A sequel titled “Grandpa’s Gonna Sue the Pants Off of Santa” was released by Elmo in 1992 on his album Dr. Elmo’s Twisted Christmas. A made-for-TV animated movie based on the original song was released in 2000.
Lyrics
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walkin’ 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 drinkin’ too much eggnog,
And we’d begged her not to go.
But she’d left her medication,
So she stumbled out the door into the snow.
When they found her Christmas mornin’
At the scene of the attack,
There were hoof prints on her forehead
And incriminatin’ Claus marks on her back.
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walkin’ home from our house Christmas Eve.
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
Now we’re all so proud of Grandpa.
He’s been takin’ this so well!
See him in there watchin’ football,
Drinkin’ beer and playin’ 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?
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walkin’ home from our house Christmas Eve.
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.
Now the goose is on the table,
And the pudding made of pig,
And a blue and silver candle
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.
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walkin’ home from our house, Christmas Eve.
You can say there’s no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe!
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