The Holly And The Ivy
Cedarmont Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
Oh the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
The holly bears a blossom
As white as the lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas day in the morn
The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
The "Holly and the Ivy" is a Christmas carol that tells the story of the holly and ivy as they grow together. The song starts with the description of the holly and the ivy: when they are both full grown, the holly bears the crown. This refers to the fact that holly trees are often used to make crowns and wreaths, especially around Christmas time. The song then goes on to describe the different symbols associated with the holly and the ivy. The holly has a white blossom, a red berry, and pricks like a thorn. The ivy is not given as much attention in the song, but it is said to grow green and never wither.
The song then makes reference to the birth of Jesus Christ as Mary bore him, and the holly and the ivy are symbolic of the season of Christmas. The rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the playing of the merry organ are all references to the joyous nature of the season. The song ends by reinforcing that the holly bears the crown, representing the triumph of good over evil.
Overall, this song paints a picture of the beauty and symbolism of the holly and the ivy and how they relate to the season and the celebration of Jesus' birth.
Line by Line Meaning
The holly and the ivy
The plants called holly and ivy are being referred to.
When they are both full grown
When the holly and the ivy are full-sized.
Of all the trees that are in the wood
Out of all the trees found in the forest.
The holly bears the crown
The holly plant produces the most noteworthy features.
Oh the rising of the sun
At sunrise.
And the running of the deer
While deer are running around.
The playing of the merry organ
The joyful sound of an organ being played.
Sweet singing all in the choir
Lovely singing coming from a choir.
The holly bears a blossom
The holly plant has flowers.
As white as the lily flower
The flowers of the holly plant are as white as a lily flower.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.
To be our sweet Savior
Jesus Christ came to save us.
The holly bears a berry
The holly plant produces berries.
As red as any blood
The berries are as red as blood.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.
To do poor sinners good
Jesus Christ came to help poor sinners.
The holly bears a prickle
Holly plants have thorns.
As sharp as any thorn
The thorns are extremely sharp.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.
On Christmas day in the morn
Jesus Christ was born on Christmas morning.
The holly and the ivy
The plants called holly and ivy are being referred to.
When they are both full grown
When the holly and the ivy are full-sized.
Of all the trees that are in the wood
Out of all the trees found in the forest.
The holly bears the crown
The holly plant produces the most noteworthy features.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ENGLISH CAROL, ROBERT G. BARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind