<P> `` Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer '' is a novelty Christmas song . Written by Randy Brooks , the song was originally performed by the husband - and - wife duo of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979 . In the lyrics , a grandmother gets drunk on spiked eggnog at a family Christmas Eve party and , having forgotten to take her medication and despite pleas and warnings from her family , staggers outside into a snowstorm . While on her walk home , she is trampled to death by Santa Claus and his reindeer pulled sleigh . The second and third verses describe the next day 's Christmas gathering where `` all the family 's dressed in black ( for mourning ) '' and the question is asked as to whether Grandma 's gifts should be opened at all or sent back the next day for possible refunds or exchanges ( the collective answer to that question is a loud `` Send them back ! '' ) , while the widowered `` Grandpa '' acts casual like nothing 's happened , drinks beer , watches football and plays cards with `` cousin Mel '' . The song closes with a warning that Santa , `` a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves '' , is unfit for a driver 's license , and that the listeners should beware . </P>
<P> `` Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer '' is a novelty Christmas song . Written by Randy Brooks , the song was originally performed by the husband - and - wife duo of Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire in 1979 . In the lyrics , a grandmother gets drunk on spiked eggnog at a family Christmas Eve party and , having forgotten to take her medication and despite pleas and warnings from her family , staggers outside into a snowstorm . While on her walk home , she is trampled to death by Santa Claus and his reindeer pulled sleigh . The second and third verses describe the next day 's Christmas gathering where `` all the family 's dressed in black ( for mourning ) '' and the question is asked as to whether Grandma 's gifts should be opened at all or sent back the next day for possible refunds or exchanges ( the collective answer to that question is a loud `` Send them back ! '' ) , while the widowered `` Grandpa '' acts casual like nothing 's happened , drinks beer , watches football and plays cards with `` cousin Mel '' . The song closes with a warning that Santa , `` a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves '' , is unfit for a driver 's license , and that the listeners should beware . </P>
who wrote the song grandma got run over by a reindeer
who wrote the song grandma got run over by a reindeer
Randy Brooks
Randy Brooks