The Holly and the Ivy
Jose Carreras Natalie Cole & Placido Domingo 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
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional Christmas carol that dates back to the 18th century. The song explores the symbolism of the holly and the ivy during the Christmas season. The lyrics describe the holly as being the most prominent tree in the woods, with a crown of leaves that represents Christ's thorny crown. The running deer and the singing choir are mentioned to evoke the energy and joy of the Christmas celebration.
The second verse of the song describes the holly's white flowers as representing the purity of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus Christ, the savior. The third verse describes the holly's red berries as symbolizing the blood shed by Christ to save the sinners. The fourth verse describes the holly's sharp prickle as a reference to Christ's crucifixion. The final verse speaks about the bitter bark of the holly, symbolizing Christ's sacrifice to redeem humanity.
The song ends on a note of triumph, with the holly and the ivy now fully grown and the holly bearing the crown. The rising sun, running deer, merry organ, and sweet singing choir come together to create a vivid picture of Christmas joy and celebration.
Overall, "The Holly and the Ivy" is a rich and complex carol that draws on a wide range of symbols and imagery to celebrate the birth and sacrifice of Christ. It reminds us of the many meanings behind the Christmas season and the importance of reflecting on the deeper significance of the holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
The holly and the ivy,
The holly and ivy form a metaphor for the Christmas season.
When they are both full grown
The plants must grow and mature before they can shine in all their glory.
Of all the trees that are in the wood
Out of all the trees in the forest, holly is the most beautiful and regal.
The holly bears the crown
In the metaphor, the holly is elevated above the ivy, and represents royalty and honor.
O the rising of the sun
An exclamation of excitement for the beautiful sights and sounds of Christmas morning.
And the running of the deer
A reference to the joyous spirit of the season, and the image of lively reindeer running through the snow.
The playing of the merry organ
A joyous and uplifting musical accompaniment to the Christmas celebration.
Sweet singing of the choir
The voices of the choir add to the joyous atmosphere of the holiday.
The holly bears a blossom
The holly is not just a symbol of strength and beauty, but also has a delicate, white bloom.
As white as lily flower
The holly's blossom is compared to the pure white petals of a lily.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
A reminder of the religious significance of the holiday, and the miraculous birth of Jesus.
To be our sweet Savior
Jesus was born to save humanity from their sins.
The holly bears a berry
The holly is also known for its bright red berries.
As red as any blood
The berries are compared to blood, perhaps symbolizing the sacrifice of Jesus.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Another reminder of the religious significance of the holiday.
To do poor sinners good
Jesus came to help those who are lost or in need.
The holly bears a prickle
The holly is not just lovely, but also has tough, sharp thorns.
As sharp as any thorn,
The thorns are compared to those of a rose, perhaps signifying the difficult and painful aspects of life.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Another reference to the birth of Jesus.
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The exact date and time of Jesus' birth is unknown, but Christmas morning is when we celebrate it.
The holly bears a bark
The final aspect of the holly is its rough, bitter bark.
As bitter as any gall,
The bitterness is perhaps symbolic of the suffering and pain that Jesus experienced during his life.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
A final reference to the miraculous birth of Jesus.
For to redeem us all.
Jesus' birth and life was dedicated to redeeming humanity, and all of our mistakes.
The holly and the ivy
The song comes full circle, returning to the metaphor that was introduced in the first verse.
Now both are full well grown,
Both the holly and the ivy are majestic and mature, ready to shine.
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly is the most regal and beautiful of all the trees.
The holly bears the crown.
Once again, the holly is elevated above the ivy as a symbol of royalty and honor.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LALO SCHIFRIN, . TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christinepaige2575
I listen to this magnificent duet every Christmas season, and it is my favorite Natalie Cole performance, out of so many, many incredible performances. She was a consummate artist and a consummately elegant stage presence, never more so than here. May she rest in peace.
@josecidasilva2178
Dueto brilhante. CARRERAS como sempre arrasou. Legendas para o Brasil ou tradução p.língua portuguesa do Brasil
@bethfiori4708
Jose Carreras is the ultimate partner; he sounds wonderful with every voice who sings with him.
@saraliu8828
Just wonderful♥️
@mikief9352
My favorite Christmas song in the most beautiful performance.
@greglaprade7507
Miki EF I couldn't agree more. I have listened to this countless times while I packed to go home for Christmas and since.
@Treasures4Food
I don't even celebrate Christmas, but this was very peaceful and lovely. I loved Natalie's vocals.
@greglaprade7507
Treasures4Food Very much so, but the Truth that's in the words is infinitely more beautiful than anything else ever.
@HinkUil
Thanks for this wonderful song. If I'm right in the same christmas show, José Carreras, Placido Domingo and Natalie Cole sang my favorite version of Oh Holy Night. If anyone could upload this part?
@Phaedrax2
Ah - thanks for uploading, I've been looking for clips from this lovely video. My favourite is the 3 of them singing 'I'll be home for Christmas'. :-D