A novelty song written in 1979 by veterinarian Elmo Shropshire and popularized by Elmo and Patsy. In it Grandma, who had been drinking too much eggnog, was found dead under circumstances that suggested she had been hit by Santa’s sleigh. The song achieved notoriety in Canada when complaints were lodged with politicians, women’s groups and seniors’ organizations that it was offensive to the female elderly and that the death of a matriarch was no laughing matter. Though nothing was done to limit its airplay, the song was voted one of the “Three Most Dreaded Christmas Songs Ever” and an American disk jockey was fired for playing it (by request) 27 times in a row. A parody followed entitled “Grandpa Got Runned Over by a John Deere.”
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 root 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!!
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.