The Twelve Days of Christmas
Mary Kate and Ashley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 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 Golden Rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Three French Hens,
Two Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
On the twelvth 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 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 popular Christmas carol that tells the story of the gifts given by a true love over twelve consecutive days. Each day, the recipient receives a new gift in addition to all the previous gifts. The song starts with a partridge in a pear tree and adds a new gift each day, with the final day totaling twelve drummers drumming.
The lyrics symbolize the generosity and devotion of the true love who gives these extravagant gifts. The repetition of the previous gifts throughout the song emphasizes the increasing abundance over the twelve days. The song is often seen as a playful and whimsical celebration of the holiday season, showcasing the joy of giving and receiving.
Interestingly, the origins of the song are somewhat mysterious, and the exact meaning behind the gifts is still debated. Some believe that the gifts hold religious symbolism, while others suggest they may have been chosen simply for their rhyming patterns. Regardless of their specific meanings, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" remains a beloved and enduring holiday classic.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas,
At the start of this festive season,
My true love gave to me,
Someone dear to my heart bestowed upon me,
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
A bird sitting on a fruit-bearing tree
On the second day of Christmas,
Continuing through this joyful time,
Two Turtle Doves,
I received a pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
As well as the previous bird perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
Advancing further into this festive period,
Three French Hens,
I was bestowed with three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
Along with the previously gifted pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Also accompanied by the original bird sitting on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
Progressing to the next stage of this celebration,
Four Calling Birds,
I received four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
In addition to the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
And the pair of loving birds previously mentioned,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Completing the group with the initial bird on the fruit-bearing tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
Moving along further in this festive period,
Five Golden Rings,
I was presented with five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Accompanied by the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Joined by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
And the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Together with the first bird perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
Continuing the merry journey,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
I received six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
Alongside the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Joined by the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Accompanied by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
And the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Completing the ensemble with the first bird sitting on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
Continuing to revel in this festive season,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming,
I was granted the presence of seven graceful swimming swans,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
Accompanied by the six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
Joined by the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Together with the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Accompanied by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
And the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
Accompanied by the initial bird perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
Progressing joyfully through this festive time,
Eight Maids-a-Milking,
I was gifted eight hardworking maids milking cows,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming,
Together with the seven graceful swimming swans,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
Joined by the six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
Accompanied by the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Accompanied by the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Joined by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
Together with the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
With the initial bird still perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
Rejoicing amidst this festive period,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
I received the delightful presence of nine elegant dancers,
Eight Maids-a-Milking,
Accompanied by the eight hardworking maids milking cows,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming,
Joined by the seven graceful swimming swans,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
Accompanied by the six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
Together with the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Joined by the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Accompanied by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
Alongside the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
With the initial bird still perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
Advancing through this wonderful time,
Ten Lords-a-Leaping,
I was bestowed with ten noble lords dancing joyfully,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
Accompanied by the nine elegant dancers,
Eight Maids-a-Milking,
Joined by the eight hardworking maids milking cows,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming,
Alongside the seven graceful swimming swans,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
With the company of the six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
In addition to the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Together with the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Joined by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
Accompanied by the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
With the initial bird still perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
Continuing to rejoice in this festive time,
Eleven Pipers Piping,
I received the joyous sounds of eleven skilled pipers,
Ten Lords-a-Leaping,
Joined by the ten noble lords dancing joyfully,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
With the presence of the nine elegant dancers,
Eight Maids-a-Milking,
Accompanied by the eight hardworking maids milking cows,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming,
Alongside the seven graceful swimming swans,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
With the company of the six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
In addition to the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Together with the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Joined by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
Accompanied by the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
With the initial bird still perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
Finally approaching the end of this festive occasion,
Twelve Drummers Drumming,
I was surrounded by the sound of twelve skilled drummers,
Eleven Pipers Piping,
Accompanied by the joyous sounds of the eleven skilled pipers,
Ten Lords-a-Leaping,
Joined by the ten noble lords dancing joyfully,
Nine Ladies Dancing,
With the delightful presence of the nine elegant dancers,
Eight Maids-a-Milking,
Alongside the eight hardworking maids milking cows,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming,
Accompanied by the seven graceful swimming swans,
Six Geese-a-Laying,
Joined by the six geese providing me with eggs,
Five Golden Rings,
In addition to the five precious rings,
Four Calling Birds,
Together with the four melodious birds,
Three French Hens,
Accompanied by the three fine hens from France,
Two Turtle Doves,
Alongside the pair of loving birds,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
With the initial bird still perched on a fruit-bearing tree.
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