"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is a novelty Christmas song. Written by Randy Brooks, the song was originally performed by Elmo Shropshire in 1979 under the brand of Elmo and Patsy, the double act Shropshire had with his then-wife Patsy Trigg.
The lyrics tell the story of the speaker's grandmother celebrating Christmas Eve with her family and venturing out into a snowstorm while intoxicated on eggnog and without her medication. She is found dead the next morning, apparently having been trampled by Santa Claus and his reindeer.
The speaker's grandfather shows little concern over his wife's demise and spends the holiday watching football on television, drinking beer and playing card games with the speaker's Cousin Mel, while the rest of the family wonders if her gifts should be opened or returned. Later, the family has a goose for dinner, and the song closes with a warning that Santa is unfit to carry a driver's license.
In the music video, in which Elmo plays both Grandma and Grandpa while Patsy plays Cousin Mel, Grandma survives the attack and makes a triumphant return through the chimney.
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
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
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 (send them back)
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
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 on 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 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
Singin' grandpa 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 Merry Christmas
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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
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
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 (send them back)
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
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 on 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 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
Singin' grandpa 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 Merry Christmas