Country great Hank Thompson’s signature song was called “The Wild Side of Life,” but getting an elephant as a pet is pretty wild even by his standards. This is an amiable novelty track from his Christmas record. It comes about a decade after Gayla Peevey’s “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas,” and it’s a bit more realistic; Hank knows that if he wants a pet under his Christmas tree, a puppy or a kitten is the more practical ask. But it’s the season of miracles, and hey, with enough hope and enough peanuts, maybe that elephant will show up after all!
