Most Christmas songs strive to have an uplifting message. If there was ever a time for schmaltzy sentiments, it's the holidays. However, there is one Christmas mainstay that has the exact opposite effect: "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." The unthinkable happens to the titular family in this tongue-in-cheek classic-and because of Santa Claus no less! Uncover the story behind this Elmo and Patsy hit, below.
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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 drinkin' too much eggnog
And we'd begged her not to go
But she forgot her medication
And she staggered out the door into the snow
When we found her Christmas mornin'
At the scene of the attack
She had hoof prints on her forehead
And incriminating Claus marks on her back
Songwriter Randy Brooks penned this track in the late '70s after hearing Merle Haggard's "Grandma's Christmas Card." That song was also about remembering a late, great grandparent, albeit with a solemn tone. Brooks took that idea and ran with it (ran far away with it), crafting a playful song about a tragic run in with Santa. At least that's one story.
"How would Grandma die at Christmas time? So there was my title line," Brooks once said. "You know I thought get hit by Santa's sleigh. So, grandma got ran over by a reindeer."
That origin story seems to be the most believable, with Brooks speaking on it personally. However, this song has amassed a healthy amount of lore. Many people have come up with their own origin stories for this holiday jingle. The truth has gotten muddled over the years, with many stories becoming fact in listeners' minds.
According to some, Brooks reportedly was inspired by a true story of an older woman dying around Christmas time. The main suspect was her husband, who put the blame on someone the cops would never find: Santa Claus. Less morbidly, other stories include Brooks witnessing a family member getting drunk at a party before heading back home in the snow.
Regardless of the song's origins, it proved to be majorly successful for Brooks. "I can't complain about the way things have gone. It's been really super for me," he once said.
Revisit "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer," below.
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 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?
(Photo by Ana Fernandez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)