It’s the middle of a late-night talk show. You expect the usual: a funny anecdote about a co-star, maybe a self-deprecating story about a wardrobe malfunction, and definitely a sleek trailer for a new blockbuster. But then Oscar Isaac picks up a guitar. He doesn't go for a brooding folk ballad or a Top 40 cover. Instead, he starts singing about a hippopotamus.
"I’m a hippopotamus / I like swimming, but I’m dangerous."
Honestly, it’s a moment that shouldn't have worked. It’s a grown man—one of the most respected actors of his generation—singing a nursery rhyme-style ditty about an aggressive semi-aquatic mammal. Yet, years later, the hippo song Oscar Isaac performance remains a cornerstone of internet culture. It’s been remixed, memed, and requested at more press junkets than anyone probably expected.
Where Did the Hippo Song Actually Come From?
If you were scrolling through TikTok or Twitter during the height of Marvel's Moon Knight hype, you probably thought this was some clever piece of viral marketing. After all, the show features Taweret, a literal hippo goddess who guides the protagonist through the Egyptian afterlife. It made sense. It felt coordinated.
But it wasn't.
The "Hippo Song" actually predates Moon Knight in the public consciousness, or at least its viral explosion does. Oscar Isaac first shared this masterpiece during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon back in October 2021. He wasn't there to promote a children's album; he was there for Dune.
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During the interview, Isaac mentioned that he had written a song for his son. As a musician who used to be in a ska band called The Blinking Underdogs, Isaac has some legitimate chops. He didn't just write a simple lullaby. He wrote a character study of a hippo that "might just bite your feet."
The lyrics are deceptively simple:
- "Hippopotamus, hippopotamus, hippopotamus, I'm a hippopotamus."
- "I like swimming, but I'm dangerous."
- "If you get too close to me, I might just bite your feet."
- "I'm fat and dangerous / If you don't understand, I might just bite your head."
It’s catchy. It’s weird. It’s slightly threatening. Basically, it’s everything the internet loves.
The Moon Knight Connection: Coincidence or Fate?
When Episode 4 of Moon Knight ended with a giant, friendly-looking hippo (Taweret) appearing in a psychiatric hospital and yelling "Hi!", the internet lost its collective mind. The hippo song Oscar Isaac had already been circulating for months, and suddenly, the actor's real-life song and his on-screen mythology collided in a way that felt like destiny.
Fans immediately started editing the song over Taweret’s scenes. The goddess of fertility and childbirth, played with delightful bubbliness by Antonia Salib, became the unofficial mascot of Isaac’s acoustic track.
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Interestingly, Mohamed Diab, the director of Moon Knight, has mentioned in various interviews how much they leaned into the "weirdness" of the series. While the song wasn't written for the show, it perfectly matched the chaotic, surreal energy of Steven Grant and Marc Spector’s journey. Some fans even feel a bit cheated that the song never made it into the actual credits of the show. Instead, we got "A Man Without Love" by Engelbert Humperdinck—which is a banger, sure—but it’s not a hippo threatening to bite your head off.
Why Do We Care So Much?
There is something deeply charming about watching a "serious" actor fully commit to something ridiculous. Isaac doesn't play the song for a cheap laugh; he plays it with the same intensity he brings to a Poe Dameron dogfight or a scene in Scenes from a Marriage.
We live in an era of highly polished celebrity PR. Everything is curated. Everything is "on brand." Then here comes Oscar Isaac, strumming a guitar and singing about being "fat and dangerous." It feels human. It feels like something a dad actually does to make his kid laugh, which is exactly what it was.
The Remix Culture and the Afterlife of the Hippo
The song didn't die after that one Tonight Show clip. Far from it.
Creatives across the web took the raw audio and ran with it. There are trap remixes. There are lo-fi versions. There are 3D animations of hippos dancing to Isaac's voice. A musician named Moktac even released a version titled "The Hippo Song (Oscar Isaac Moon Knight)" on streaming platforms, capitalizing on the search demand from confused fans trying to find the "official" version.
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It has become a bit of a "thing" in the Oscar Isaac fandom. It’s often used to contrast his more intense roles. You’ll see a clip of him as the terrifying Duke Leto Atreides in Dune, followed immediately by "I'm a hippopotamus." The duality is the point.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re looking to find the best version of this or want to know more about Isaac's musical background, here’s what you should actually check out:
- The Original Source: Watch the full October 2021 Tonight Show interview. Isaac talks about bonding with Timothée Chalamet on the set of Dune before breaking out the guitar.
- The Blinking Underdogs: If you want to hear Oscar Isaac's "real" music, look up his old ska band. They actually opened for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones back in the day. He’s a legit musician.
- Inside Llewyn Davis: For those who want more Isaac-with-a-guitar but in a much more depressing context, the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis is essential viewing. No hippos, just vibes and cats.
- Fan Edits: Search "Taweret Hippo Song" on YouTube or TikTok. Some of the fan-made transitions between the show’s footage and the song are surprisingly high quality.
The hippo song Oscar Isaac phenomenon is a reminder that sometimes the best "content" isn't planned. It's just a talented person being a bit of a goofball. Whether you're a Marvel fan or just someone who appreciates a good rhyme about dangerous land animals, the song is a permanent part of the Oscar Isaac lore now. You can't think of him without at least a little part of your brain whispering, I might just bite your feet.
Next time you see a hippo at the zoo, just remember: they are indeed the most dangerous land animal. Oscar Isaac warned us. We just didn't listen because the tune was too catchy.