Sherman was just a television producer, most famous for the quiz show "I've Got a Secret," not at all known as a comedian or performer, and it shocked everyone in the know when songs from his album My Son, The Folk Singer became popular. In fact, president John F. Kennedy was heard singing the song Sarah Jackman. Sherman's overnight popularity suddenly ended when the nation's attention focused on Kennedy's assassination, and the nation was too sad for such up-beat musical offerings.
Sherman then slipped back into his longtime depression, and died, quietly, at the young age of 48.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Allan Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Japanese transistor radio
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(It's a Nakashuma)
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(It's the Mark IV model
That's the one that's discontinued)
On the fourth day Of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A simulated alligator wallet
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(And it comes in a leatherette case with holes in it
so you can listen right through the case)
On the fifth fay of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A statue of a naked lady, with a clock where her stomach ought to be
A simulated alligator wallet
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(And it has a wire with thing on one end
that you can stick right in your ear
and a thing on the other end
that you can't stack anywhere, because it's bent)
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A hammered aluminum nutcracker
And all that other stuff
And a Japanese transistor radio
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A pink satin pillow that says San Diego, with fringe all around it,
And all that other stuff
And a Japanese radio
On the eight day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An indoor plastic birdbath
And all that other stuff
And a Japanese transistor radio
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A pair of teakwood shower clogs
And a Japanese transistor radio
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter
And a Japanese transistor radio
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An automatic vegetable slicer that works when to see it on television
but not when you get it home
And a Japanese transistor radio
On the twelfth day of Christmas, although it may seem strange
On the twelfth day of Christmas, I'm going to exchange
An automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television
but not when you get it home
A chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter
A pair of teakwood shower clogs
An indoor plastic birdbath
A pink satin pillow that says San Diego, with fringe all around it
A hammered aluminum nutcracker
A statue of naked lady, with a clock where her stomach ought to be
A simulated alligator wallet
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
Merry Christmas everybody
The song "Twelve Gifts of Christmas" by Allan Sherman is a humorous take on the traditional Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas". The song tells the story of a man receiving absurd gifts from his "true love" over the course of twelve days. Each day, he receives a new gift and lists all of the previous day's gifts before it.
The gifts range from a Japanese transistor radio on the first day to a combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter on the tenth day. The gifts become increasingly ridiculous as the song progresses, culminating in a list of twelve items that the man intends to return or exchange.
The song is meant to be comedic and satirical, poking fun at the commercialism and consumerism of the holiday season. The repetition of the list of gifts also serves to highlight the excess and absurdity of the gift-giving tradition.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A Japanese transistor radio
My significant other gave me a Japanese transistor radio on the first day of Christmas.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(It's a Nakashuma)
My significant other gave me green polka-dot pajamas and a Japanese transistor radio (it's a Nakashuma) on the second day of Christmas.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(It's the Mark IV model
That's the one that's discontinued)
My significant other gave me a calendar book with the name of my insurance man, green polka-dot pajamas, and a Japanese transistor radio (it's the Mark IV model, the one that's discontinued) on the third day of Christmas.
On the fourth day Of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A simulated alligator wallet
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(And it comes in a leatherette case with holes in it
so you can listen right through the case)
My significant other gave me a simulated alligator wallet, a calendar book with the name of my insurance man, green polka-dot pajamas, and a Japanese transistor radio (it comes in a leatherette case with holes in it so you can listen right through the case) on the fourth day of Christmas.
On the fifth fay of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A statue of a naked lady, with a clock where her stomach ought to be
A simulated alligator wallet
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
(And it has a wire with thing on one end
that you can stick right in your ear
and a thing on the other end
that you can't stack anywhere, because it's bent)
My significant other gave me a statue of a naked lady with a clock where her stomach ought to be, a simulated alligator wallet, a calendar book with the name of my insurance man, green polka-dot pajamas, and a Japanese transistor radio (it has a wire with thing on one end that you can stick right in your ear and a thing on the other end that you can't stack anywhere, because it's bent) on the fifth day of Christmas.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A hammered aluminum nutcracker
And all that other stuff
And a Japanese transistor radio
My significant other gave me a hammered aluminum nutcracker, all that other stuff, and a Japanese transistor radio on the sixth day of Christmas.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A pink satin pillow that says San Diego, with fringe all around it,
And all that other stuff
And a Japanese radio
My significant other gave me a pink satin pillow that says San Diego with fringe all around it, all that other stuff, and a Japanese radio on the seventh day of Christmas.
On the eight day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An indoor plastic birdbath
And all that other stuff
And a Japanese transistor radio
My significant other gave me an indoor plastic birdbath, all that other stuff, and a Japanese transistor radio on the eighth day of Christmas.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A pair of teakwood shower clogs
And a Japanese transistor radio
My significant other gave me a pair of teakwood shower clogs and a Japanese transistor radio on the ninth day of Christmas.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter
And a Japanese transistor radio
My significant other gave me a chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter and a Japanese transistor radio on the tenth day of Christmas.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An automatic vegetable slicer that works when to see it on television
but not when you get it home
And a Japanese transistor radio
My significant other gave me an automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television but not when you get it home and a Japanese transistor radio on the eleventh day of Christmas.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, although it may seem strange
On the twelfth day of Christmas, I'm going to exchange
An automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television
but not when you get it home
A chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter
A pair of teakwood shower clogs
An indoor plastic birdbath
A pink satin pillow that says San Diego, with fringe all around it
A hammered aluminum nutcracker
A statue of naked lady, with a clock where her stomach ought to be
A simulated alligator wallet
A calendar book with the name of my insurance man
Green polka-dot pajamas
And a Japanese transistor radio
Although it may seem strange, on the twelfth day of Christmas, I'm going to exchange an automatic vegetable slicer that works when you see it on television but not when you get it home, a chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter, a pair of teakwood shower clogs, an indoor plastic birdbath, a pink satin pillow that says San Diego with fringe all around it, a hammered aluminum nutcracker, a statue of a naked lady with a clock where her stomach ought to be, a simulated alligator wallet, a calendar book with the name of my insurance man, green polka-dot pajamas, and a Japanese transistor radio.
Merry Christmas everybody
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., Songtrust Ave
Written by: Allan Sherman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smurfstoolsoldiesmusictimemach
Welcome to Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine!
We provide classic video music clips from the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's and occasionally the 1980's. We are dedicated in improving your viewing and listening pleasure by editing, restoring and remastering vintage film clips. Enjoy!
@LarryGonzalez00
This is one of my favorite Christmas carols. I had no idea a video clip existed. Big Thanks Sammy, I have a feeling Santa's going to be extra good to you this year.🎅🎄
@smurfstoolsoldiesmusictimemach
Glad you like this little gem, Larry. Thanks!
@edwardcarlisle5580
I love this! I didn't know this was on TV. Wow! This is my favorite version of the 12 Days of Christmas.
@cynthiapickett7403
Sixty years later--he's speaking the truth about his crappy Christmas gifts!
@thecountofbasie
What a blast down memory lane...thanks Sammy and happy holidays
@smurfstoolsoldiesmusictimemach
Thanks Count. Happy Holidays.
@bobzwol
OMG! Allan Sherman is like... SO LA! I remember this like it was yesterday! Thank you so much, Sammy, for resurrecting this priceless parody of a Christmas classic! You did an absolutely great job synching the studio track to this live performance!
@smurfstoolsoldiesmusictimemach
Thanks very much, Bob! I couldn't resist working on this one as the 45 was one of the first Christmas records I bought as a youngster.
@bobzwol
@@smurfstoolsoldiesmusictimemach What a hoot! My very 1st 45 RPM I ever bought was Allan's "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" back in 1963.