The Twelve Days of Christmas
John Denver/The Muppets Lyrics
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My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave 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 gave to me
Five gold 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 gave to me
Six geese a-laying
Five gold 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 gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold 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 gave to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
Me me me me me me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
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 gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
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 gave 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 gold rings, badam-pam-pam
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 gave 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 gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
The classic Christmas song, "Twelve Days of Christmas" has a simple premise: a passionate lover who showers his beloved with gifts for each of the 12 days of Christmas. Each day depicts a different gift from the lover, with the gifts increasing in quantity and variety as the days progress. The song starts with the giver receiving a partridge in a pear tree on the first day, then two turtle doves and a partridge on the second day, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge on the third day, and so on.
The song's origins are believed to be in 18th-century England, where it was a popular game, with participants taking turns singing the verses while others added harmonies or improvised new lyrics. The gifts mentioned in the song were also used as a memory aid for the game.
Interpretations of the lyrics vary, with some believing that the gifts have religious symbolism. For example, the partridge in a pear tree may represent Jesus, the turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments, and the five gold rings represent the Pentateuch – the first five books of the Bible. Others interpret the song as a satire of the extravagance and commercialism of Christmas, with the lover's gifts being increasingly absurd.
The song has been performed by numerous artists and has been adapted into various genres. It remains a beloved Christmas classic that continues to be enjoyed by audiences worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas
At the start of the twelve-day Christmas gift-giving period
My true love gave to me
Someone I love gave me a gift
A partridge in a pear tree
A bird sitting in a fruit tree
Two turtle doves
Two birds that symbolize love and commitment
And a partridge in a pear tree
The same bird sitting in the same fruit tree
Three French hens
Three chickens from France
Four calling birds
Four birds that can sing beautifully
Five gold rings
Five rings made of gold
Six geese a-laying
Six geese that lay eggs
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans that are gracefully moving through water
Eight maids a-milking
Eight women who are milking cows
Nine ladies dancing
Nine women who are joyously moving their bodies to music
Ten lords a-leaping
Ten men who are joyfully jumping up and down
Eleven pipers piping
Eleven musicians playing wind instruments
Twelve drummers drumming
Twelve musicians playing drums
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@coreywiley3981
The singers on the album version are:
John Denver -- "A partridge in a pear tree"
Fozzie Bear -- "Two turtle doves"
Gonzo -- "Three French hens"
Robin the Frog -- "Four calling birds"
Miss Piggy -- "Five gold rings"
Scooter -- "Six geese a-laying"
Lew Zealand -- "Seven swans a-swimming"
Rowlf the Dog -- "Eight maids a-milking"
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker - "Nine ladies dancing"
Statler and Waldorf -- "Ten lords a-leaping"
Beauregard -- "Eleven pipers piping"
Kermit -- "Twelve drummers drumming"
@SebastianSanchez-en3df
Here's the Stars Of Nickelodeon, NBC & CBS
Also As Stars Of Disney Channel & ABC
1. Seth Meyers
2. Jimmy Fallon
3. Benjamin Flores Jr
4. Thomas Kuc
5. Debra Messing
6. Eric McCormick
7. Sean Hayes & Meghan Mullally
8. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler
9. Michael Che, Collin Jost & Chica the Chicken
10. Cree Cicchino, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Cory Fogelmanis, Peyton Meyer, Mark McCuen & Dave Price
11. Madysn Shipman, Sasheer Zamata, Aidy Bryant, Sabrina Carpenter,
Rowan Blanchard, Rickie Lake, Willie Geist, Josh Elliot, & Sam Champion
12. Matt Lauer, Bethenny Frankel Al Roker Jules Leblanc & Jayden Bartels
@Utz018
I remember hearing this on the radio a lot during Christmas time when I was a kid. Its sad they dont play it anymore
@AniMariBro
Yeah
Instead they play the horrid bird and bee cover that can't decide on a key
@bloonstd6fanatic2007
A radio station in Maine still plays this version every xmas eve.
@sambucci8544
They play this version on 105.5 here in Tampa every year. Love this
@angiec3512
So true
@DansEuropeVlog
We get this song a lot in Baltimore
@rickmorgan952
The best Christmas song ever song. I have to listen to it every year.🎉❤
@ZakWolf
The best part is Miss Piggy's "Five...gold... rings! (Ba-dum, bum, bum!)"
@WHL1997
Best Christmas song ever. I heard it playing in the halls in December of 2016 when I was in high school at M.E. LaZerte after I saw my friend Haley (who I used to go to Student leadership program with and was wearing a Fall Out Boy sweater at the time). I just can’t get enough of this song. Fozzie Bear and Gonzo are my favourite Muppet characters.
@wayneg.8232
I love it when they get to the 9th day and Miss Piggy adds Ba-dum bum bum to five gold rings.