The Twelve Days of Christmas
Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby Lyrics

On the first day of Christmas
At the beginning of the Twelve Days of Christmas

My true love sent to me
My beloved gave me as a gift

A partridge in a pear tree
One partridge perched on a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas
At the second day of this medieval Christmas-time celebration

Two turtle doves
Two lovebirds trying to convey affection

And a partridge in a pear tree
Along with the previous gift

On the third day of Christmas
Three days after the celebration started

Three French hens
Three hens of the French origin, used for egg-laying

Two turtle doves
Two more lovebirds

And a partridge in a pear tree
Together with the previous two gifts

On the fourth day of Christmas
At the midpoint of the celebration

Four calling birds
Four songbirds singing sweetly

Three French hens
Three more egg-laying hens from France

Two turtle doves
Another couple of lovebirds

And a partridge in a pear tree
All still adding up to a partridge and pear tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
Five days into the holiday

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Five shiny bands of gold

Four calling birds
Four more melodious birds

Three French hens
Another group of three hens for egg-laying

Two turtle doves
Adding to the lovebirds count

And a partridge in a pear tree
All accompanied by the partridge and pear tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
At the sixth day of the festivities

Six geese a-laying
Six geese capable of laying eggs

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
The shiny gold bands still part of the present

Four calling birds
More singing birds

Three French hens
Yet another set of French hens

Two turtle doves
More lovebirds being gifted

And a partridge in a pear tree
Still perched on the pear tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
At the seventh day of the holiday season

Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans gracefully gliding on water

Six geese a-laying
More geese with egg-laying abilities

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Still sporting the shiny golden bands

Four calling birds
Chirping once again

Three French hens
Another trio of hens from France

Two turtle doves
Two more lovebirds tweeting

And a partridge in a pear tree
The beloved partridge on its pear tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
Eight days into the Yuletide celebration

Eight maids a-milking
Eight maids performing the age-old tradition of milking cows

Seven swans a-swimming
A duo of extra swans swimming in sync

Six geese a-laying
A previous gift with half a dozen more geese carriers of the gift of eggs

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Still dazzling with five golden rings

Four calling birds
Another set of songbirds

Three French hens
Another threesome of egg-laying hens from France

Two turtle doves
More lovebirds were given as a present by the beloved one

And a partridge in a pear tree
The usual partridge sitting on top of its pear tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
Arriving at the ninth day of the Christmas tradition

Nine ladies dancing
Nine women performing a traditional dance

Eight maids a-milking
Eight milkmaids pouring fresh milk from their cows

Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans wading elegantly

Six geese a-laying
Continuing the gift of egg-producing geese

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
The five gleaming bands still completing the gift

Four calling birds
More sweet-voiced chirping birds

Three French hens
Another group of French hens that can lay eggs

Two turtle doves
More lovebirds for the tenacious lover to show his love

And a partridge in a pear tree
The loving partner gifted of a partridge and its tree of choice

On the tenth day of Christmas
A decade of festivities

Ten lords a-leaping
Ten nobles showing off their energetic dance moves

Nine ladies dancing
More ladies partaking in the traditional dance

Eight maids a-milking
Milkmaids still working hard to milk cows

Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans moving together in the water

Six geese a-laying
More geese laying eggs to complete the gift set

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Five exquisitely crafted, shimmering gold bands still present in the gift

Four calling birds
Another quartet of melodious birds

Three French hens
More egg-laying, French hens

Two turtle doves
More lovebirds to strengthen the bond of the lovers

And a partridge in a pear tree
And the typical, expected partridge resting on its usual pear tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
As the holiday season comes to a close with two remaining days

I sent eleven pipers piping
Sending off eleven musicians playing bagpipes

Ten lords a-leaping
As before, ten aristocrats dancing energetically

Nine ladies dancing
Nine more ladies involved in the traditional dance of the ceremony

Eight maids a-milking
Gathering more milk from their cows

Seven swans a-swimming
The same seven swans swimming together

Six geese a-laying
The same six geese laying the expected eggs

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
The previous five golden rings shining bright

Four calling birds
Four more singing birds

Three French hens
Three more egg-laying hens from France

Two turtle doves
Another two lovebirds as a display of affection

And a partridge in a pear tree
Last but not least, the loyal and constant partridge sitting on its twig

On the twelfth day of Christmas
On the last day of this remarkable twelve-day festival

Twelve drummers drumming
Twelve tam-tam players playing loudly for all to hear

Eleven pipers piping
Another group of piping musicians sent as a parting gift

Ten lords a-leaping
The same ten lords still showing off their fit moves

Nine ladies dancing
Nine more ladies dancing in a circle one last time

Eight maids a-milking
Milking cows one final time this holiday season

Seven swans a-swimming
The same seven swans swimming away

Six geese a-laying
The same six geese delivering their gift in the form of eggs

Five gold rings (five golden rings)
The five yet-still-impressive golden rings

Four calling birds
The same four musical birds as before

Three French hens
The usual three French hens keeping the eggs coming

Two turtle doves
The final two lovebirds with the mission of love accomplished

And a partridge in a pear tree
Bringing along the always present, loving partridge atop the pear tree

And a partridge in a pear tree
Repeating this traditional way of describing the whole gift set