We can't think of Christmas without thinking of Yogi Yorgesson and his Christmas stories. With a strong Swedish accent, Yogi has helped to make us laugh as he 'yust goes nuts at Christmas' and his antic 'yingle bells' tale as he rides in a one-horse open sleigh. This page includes many of Yogi's Christmas stories thru various holiday songs.

We all think of Yogi as being of Swedish descent, but in reality, Yogi's father was Norwegian. Yogi's father and brother immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's and eventually settled in Tacoma, Washington. His birth name was Harry Edward Skarbo. Two years later, Elise died while giving birth to another child who did not survive. Hans was so overcome with grief, and knowing he could not raise a two year old son, Harry Skarbo was put up for adoption with the Stewart family. Yogi's name was now Harry Edward Stewart.

To keep from starving, Harry created the character of Yogi Yorgesson, a Swedish-Hindu Spiritualist. For his routine he used a thick Swedish accent, and his costume was Swedish boots, a Hindu loincloth, a lumberjack shirt and a Hindu turban.

In the 1950's he dropped the Hindu part of his act, and became just Yogi Yorgesson, the singer and storyteller. He wrote as well as performed all his material, and performed on both radio and television over the years.
Note: Yogi Yorgesson and Stan Boreson are often confused. They shared the same style of Swedish comedy, and even today, some of Yogi's songs are listed as performed by Stan Boreson. Yogi and Stan did become good friends however, and after Yogi's death from a car accident in 1956, His wife Gretchen gave two of Yogi's unpublished works to Stan.

 
I Was Santa Claus At The School House (For The P.T.A.) 
By:  Yogi Yorgesson w/ Johnny Duffy & The Scandahoovians
Release Date: 1951

Song Lyrics: I was Santa Claus at the schoolhouse for the PTA.

 

     

    The parent-teacher's group, they called a meeting.
    My wife, she says "You have to go, my dear.
    It's the big, important Christmas party meeting
    While all the papas who ain't sick appear."
    I dozed off till the middle of the meeting
    When the chairman shouted out so all could hear:
    "Mrs. Yorgesson says that her yolly husband,
    He will gladly be our Santy Claus this year."
    The other papas looked relieved and happy.
    They knew I'd been betrayed by my sweet wife.
    And I always reek like that strong fellow Swanson
    When Delilah cut his hair off with a knife.

     

    The PTA, the PTA,
    I was Santa Claus at the schoolhouse for the PTA.

    On the night of the party I sneaked into the school.
    The committee, they all met me there.
    These giggling women are going to dress me
    And glue on my whiskers and hair.

     

    I go out into them big, red pants and black boots
    They yak about seven feet wide.
    When I got into it there was still plenty of room
    For one good-sized reindeer to hide.

     

    Then I walked into the school yimnasium.
    The plan was that each little tyke
    Would walk up and shake hands with ol' Santy
    And tell me what presents they'd like.

     

    The first kid was little Dagmar Larson
    Who wanted a new kiddie car.
    She patted my face with her wet little hand
    Which was half full of warm chocolate bar.

     

    The next kid in line was the young Scarbo boy.
    I think that his first name is Mylo.
    He's the orneriest brat in the whole darn school
    And he's built yust like a brick silo.

    "Last year," he says,
    "You promised to bring me a real sharp sword and a gun.
    And all that you brought was new shoes and a coat,
    You dirty old son of a gun!

     

    Then he yabbed his finger right in my eye
    And I let out a heck of a groan.
    And then he kicked my shin with his breast-holed shoe,
    I was sure that he'd broken the bone.

     

    Then old man good Warrenson picked his granddaughter up
    And then he put her down on my lap.
    His lighted cigar set my whiskers on fire;
    They started to crackle and snap.

     

    I yumped up and made a run for the door
    As fast as my sore leg would go
    And put out the fire in the snowbank
    And cooled off my face in the snow.

    I didn't dare go back, so I hurried on home
    And closed my front door with a slam.
    And in my own home, my dog bit me twice
    Before he figured out who I am.

     

    But the kids home had a nice Christmas.
    And in spite of what happened, I'll still say
    I'd be Santa Claus again next Christmas
    For the good old PTA.

     

    The PTA, the PTA,
    I was Santa Claus at the schoolhouse for the good old PTA!
    (Sonic SBL)

     

More "Yogi Yorgesson Christmas" Dedications

YINGLE BELLS I YUST GO NUTZ CHRISTMAS PARTY

The song is not available for free download due to copyright or license restrictions.
Below is a link to the Yogi Yorgesson website.
It includes the complete works of Yogi Yorgesson, and all the songs are available on CD format.
Click the Cookie to view his archived website.




Special thanks to Stina for the information and links

 

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