Holiday Fun: Dominick the Donkey

So what do you post to your blog when you haven't had time to write anything in-depth or serious? Something silly, of course! And since it's the "holiday" season (I don't know if it's right to dignify silliness with the Lord's name), what better than a goofy novelty song? Not that execrable ditty about a fatal collision between a reindeer and a grandmother, but one that's really fun, and celebrates ethnicity in a gentle and rib-tickling way. I'm referring, of course, to Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey, recorded in 1960 by the incomparable Lou Monte (who gave us such other unforgettable classics as Shaddap You Face and Who Stole My Provolone?). It's all about a donkey who helps Santa Claus bring presents to children in sunny Italy. Can you imagine a reindeer in Italy? Of course not--so there you go.

There are a number of videos that have been put to this song, but the one below is the most entertaining and authentically "Italian" of them, by far. I have no idea who these guys are, but they look like they had a blast making the video.

I had never heard this song until it came up on an ethnic radio show I happened to catch a couple of days before Christmas in 2008. I thought it was hilarious, but no one else I mentioned it to had ever heard of it, either (few of my friends and none of my family are Italian). So, in order to preserve this cultural treasure forever and for all non-Italian mankind, I hereby present you with Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey (words--can something so unlyrical have "lyrics"?--are below the video).

Buon Natale!



Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisons,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Brooklyn.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.
Cumpare sing,
Cumpare su,
And dance 'sta tarantel.
When jusamagora comes to town,
And brings du ciuccianello.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Hey! Dominick! Buon Natale!
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)