The Twelve Days of Christmas
Mickey and the Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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,
wo turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine drummers drumming, 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 pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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 ladies dancing, ten pipers piping,
nine drummers drumming, 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 gave to me
Twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing,
ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming
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 dates back to the late 18th century. In the song, the singer is recounting what their "true love" gave them for each of the twelve days of Christmas. Each day, a new gift is added to the list, starting with "a partridge in a pear tree."
As the days go on, the gifts become more elaborate and extravagant, ranging from "two turtle doves" to "five golden rings" to "seven swans a-swimming." Towards the end of the song, the gifts become more performative, such as "nine drummers drumming" and "eleven ladies dancing." Finally, on the twelfth day of Christmas, the singer receives "twelve lords a-leaping" in addition to all the other gifts.
While the song's origins are somewhat unclear, it's likely that it was originally a children's memory and forfeit game. It has since become a popular Christmas carol that is often performed and sung during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree
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 to me
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave 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
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 to me
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
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 to me
Five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
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 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
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 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
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 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
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 to me
Nine drummers drumming, 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
My true love gave me nine drummers drumming, 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 to me
Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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
My true love gave me ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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 to me
Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping,
nine drummers drumming, 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 me eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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 gave to me
Twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing,
ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming
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 gave me twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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am I the only one that knows that the final 4 days in this version are in the wrong order. I will put the items the the first number is in traditional version and the second will be this version.
drummers drumming-12,10
pipers piping-11,9
lords a leaping-10,11
ladies dancing-9,12
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