The Twelve Days of Christmas
Clare College Singers and Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a classic Christmas song that dates back to the 18th century. The song tells the story of a person who receives a series of increasingly grand gifts from their true love over the 12 days of Christmas. Each day brings a new gift, starting with a partridge in a pear tree and building up to 12 drummers drumming on the final day.
The song is often interpreted through a religious lens, with each gift symbolizing something from the Christian faith. For example, the partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus Christ, the turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and the twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed. The song is also sometimes viewed as a representation of courtship and romance, with the true love showering their beloved with lavish gifts.
Interestingly, the song was originally a children's memory game in which players had to remember and repeat all of the gifts mentioned in the previous verses before adding a new gift of their own. The modern version of the song that we know today was popularized in England in the 19th century and then made its way to the United States, where it became a beloved holiday classic. It has been covered by countless artists over the years and remains a staple of Christmas playlists around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave me a partridge in a pear tree on the first day of Christmas.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave me two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree on the second day of Christmas.
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave me three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the third day of Christmas.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the fourth day of Christmas.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the fifth day of Christmas.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the sixth day of Christmas.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave me seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the seventh day of Christmas.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the eighth day of Christmas.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the ninth day of Christmas.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the tenth day of Christmas.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave me eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the eleventh day of Christmas.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave me twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree on the twelfth day of Christmas.
Lyrics © Roba Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERIC N AUSTIN, JOHN D'ANDREA, CORY CHARLES N LERIOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lisacampbell4295
i just LOVE THIS!!