[Verse 1]
There's a hippopotamus, a hippopotamus
A hippopotamus in my pool
There's a hippopotamus, a hippopotamus
A hippopotamus in my pool

[Refrain 1]
How did it get there? How did it get there?
How did it get there? I don't know
How did it get there? How did it get there?
How did it get there? I don't know

[Verse 2]
There's a book by Anonymous, a book by Anonymous
A book by Anonymous in my pool
There's a book by Anonymous, a book by Anonymous
And a hippopotamus in my pool

[Refrain 2]
No, I've not read it, no, I've not read it
When it dries out I'll have a go
How did it get there? How did it get there?
How did it get there? I don't know

[Bridge 1]
Someone must have been fooling around
Someone must have been acting the clown
Someone must have been taking the piss
Taking the piss in acting like this
[Verse 3]
There's a painting by Hieronymous Bosch, by Hieronymous Bosch
By Hieronymous in my pool
There's a painting by Hieronymous Bosch, by Hieronymous Bosch
By Hieronymous in my pool

[Refrain 3]
How did it get there? how did it get there?
How did it get there? Sure beats me
Must be a late work, must be a late work
One of his late works, obviously!

[Verse 4]
There's a Volkswagen Microbus, a Volkswagen Microbus
A Volkswagen Microbus in my pool
A '58 Microbus, a '58 Microbus
A '58 Microbus in my pool

[Refrain 4]
A hippy is driving, a hippy is driving
A drippy ol' hippy, poor, poor guy
A hippy is driving, a hippy is driving
I throw him a towel, here go get dry

[Bridge 2]
Someone must have been acting real cute
Someone wearing a slim-fitty suit
Someone must have thought, oh, what a laugh
Throw in a hippo and then a giraffe
[Verse 5]
There is Titus Andronicus, Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus in my pool
There is Titus Andronicus, Titus Andronicus
Wearing a snorkel in my pool

[Refrain 5]
Now he's gone under, now he's gone under
Now he's gone under, worry not
Excellent swimmer, excellent swimmer
Looking much trimmer than I'd thought

[Verse 6]
There's a woman with an abacus, a woman with an abacus
A woman with an abacus, she looks Chinese
There's a woman with an abacus, a woman with an abacus
A woman with an abacus, she looks Chinese

[Refrain 6]
Not that I'm prejudiced, not that I'm prejudiced
Not that I'm prejudiced, no not me
Not that I'm prejudiced, not that I'm prejudiced
Not that I'm prejudiced, that's not me

[Outro]
Throw in a hippo, a little Dutch art
An actor performing a Shakespearean part
Summery book and Germanic van
Asian lady, isn't it grand?
Yes, yes, so grand