Born: 8 September 1921
Swansea, Wales, UK
Died: 11 April 2001 (aged 79)
Shamley Green, Surrey, England, UK
Spouse(s) Myra Atherton
Albums: Sacred Songs (1962) UK #16; Secombe's Personal Choice (1967) UK #6; If I Ruled the World (1971) UK #17; Bless This House: 20 Songs Of Joy (1978) UK #8[5]; Captain Beaky and His Band
The Holly and the Ivy
Harry Secombe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they are both full grown
O-of all the trees that are in the wood
The-e holly bears the crown
Oh the rising of the su-un
And the running of the deer
The-e playing of the merry organ
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
A-and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To-oo be our sweet Savior
Oh the rising of the su-un
And the running of the deer
The-e playing of the merry organ
Swee-eet singing in the choir
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
A-and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To-oo do poor sinners good
Oh the rising of the su-un
And the running of the deer
The-e playing of the merry organ
Swee-eet singing in the choir
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
A-and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
O-on Christmas day in the morn'
Oh the rising of the su-un
And the running of the deer
The-e playing of the merry organ
Swee-eet singing in the choir
The holly bears a bar-ark
As bitter as any gall
A-and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For-or to redeem us all
Oh the rising of the su-un
And the running of the deer
The-e playing of the merry organ
Swee-eet singing in the choir...
"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional Christmas carol that praises the holly tree, the ivy plant, and the birth of Jesus Christ. The first verse speaks about how the holly tree is the most prized tree in the wood because it bears the crown. The second verse describes the atmosphere of Christmas, with the rising of the sun, and the running of the deer (perhaps a reference to the winter solstice and the wild animals announcing the arrival of the new season). The playing of the organ and sweet singing in the choir emphasizes the joyous nature of Christmastime.
The third verse is about the holly's flowers, which are white like the lily flower, and how Mary bore Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world. The fourth verse mentions the holly's berries, which are red like blood, and how Jesus came to save poor sinners. The fifth verse describes how the holly tree has sharp prickles like thorns, just as Jesus wore a crown of thorns before he was crucified. Lastly, the sixth verse touches on how the holly tree has a bitter bark like gall, which represents how Jesus suffered on the cross to redeem humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
The Holly and the Ivy
This song is about the significance of the holly and the ivy in the celebration of Christmas.
When they are both full grown
When the holly and the ivy plants are fully mature and thriving.
O-of all the trees that are in the wood
Out of all the trees in the forest.
The-e holly bears the crown
The holly is considered the most regal tree and therefore bears a crown of leaves.
Oh the rising of the su-un
The sunrise on Christmas morning is a time of joy and celebration.
And the running of the deer
The deer running through the woods is a symbol of the liveliness and excitement surrounding Christmas.
The-e playing of the merry organ
The organ music played during Christmas services represents the joy and celebration of the holiday.
Swee-eet singing in the choir
The choir's sweet singing during Christmas services is a beautiful and uplifting sound.
The holly bears a blossom
The holly tree produces lovely flowers in addition to its leaves and berries.
As white as lily flower
The holly's flowers are a pure white color, resembling lilies.
A-and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary, as the mother of Jesus Christ, played an important role in the Christian celebration of Christmas.
To-oo be our sweet Savior
Jesus Christ was born to save humanity from sin and offer them salvation.
The holly bears a berry
The holly tree also produces berries that are commonly used as decoration during the Christmas season.
As red as any blood
The holly berries are a deep red color, resembling blood.
A-and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, which is an essential aspect of the Christmas story.
To-oo do poor sinners good
Jesus Christ came to Earth for the benefit of those who are struggling with sin and are in need.
The holly bears a prickle
In addition to leaves and berries, the holly tree also has prickly thorns on its branches.
As sharp as any thorn
The thorns on the holly tree are extremely sharp, resembling other thorns found in nature.
O-on Christmas day in the morn'
Christmas morning is the time when the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated.
The holly bears a bar-ark
The holly tree also produces bark that is both useful and a symbol of the tree's endurance.
As bitter as any gall
The holly bark is very bitter, which may represent the sacrifices made by Jesus Christ.
For-or to redeem us all
Jesus Christ was born to redeem humanity and offer salvation to everyone.
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.