The singer and the single.
"Dominick the Donkey" is a 1960 Italian/American novelty Christmas song performed by Lou Monte.
The song describes one of Santa Claus's helpers, the titular donkey who takes the place of the reindeer who have trouble navigating the hills of Italy. Dominick is a friend to the children and seems to make runs to Brooklyn, New York (once a manufacturing hub) to get extra presents for Santa to give out.
The song went out of circulation for a time, even during Christmas on oldies stations, but experienced a resurgence in the 1990's and is still played during Christmas to this day. Monte sang/spoke in a satirical Italian-American voice, similar to the one he used for another of his notable hits Pepino The Italian Mouse.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
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
Santa's got a little friend,
his name is Dominick
The cutest little donkey,
you never see him kick
When Santa visits his Paesans
with Dominick he'll be
Because the reindeer cannot
climb the hills of Italy
[Chorus]
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 label on the inside says
they're made in Brooklyn
[Chorus]
Children sing and clap their hands,
and Dominick starts ta dance
Dey talk Italian to him,
and he even understands
Gumbaros and gumbaras,
da de dance a dallodale
When Zepilagola comes to town
and brings oh chu-cha-lil
[Chorus]
Hey Dominick!
Bouna Natale!
(Repeatingly until fade out: "Hee haw, hee haw")