The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ … Read Full Bio ↴The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Since July 15, 1929, the choir has performed a weekly radio broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word which is the longest-running continuous network broadcast in the world. The show has been televised since the early 1960s and is now broadcast worldwide through some 1,500 radio, television, and cable stations.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.

The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.

Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.

The Holly and the Ivy
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics

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The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees
That are in the wood,
The holly wears the crown

[Chorus]
O' the rising of the sun

The running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
Sweet singing in the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior

[Chorus]

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good

[Chorus]

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas day in the morn

[Chorus]

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all

[Chorus]

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees
That are in the wood
The holly wears the crown

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

"The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional English Christmas carol that dates back to the 18th century. The song compares and contrasts the holly and ivy plants, which were often used for decoration during the Christmas season. The opening verse celebrates the holly, which is believed to be the king of the forest because of its prickly leaves and red berries. The chorus is an ode to the many joys of Christmas, including the sunrise, the sound of deer running, the playing of musical instruments, and singing in the choir.

The second verse describes the holly's flowers as white and pure, a symbol of the Virgin Mary and the birth of Jesus Christ. The third verse refers to the holly's red berries, which represent the blood of Christ shed for the salvation of humankind. The fourth verse acknowledges the holly's thorns, which are compared to the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during his crucifixion on the cross. Finally, the fifth verse refers to the bitterness of the holly's bark as a metaphor for the bitterness of Christ's suffering and sacrifice.

This classic carol has been performed by countless artists over the years, but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version remains one of the most beloved. Its soaring harmonies and traditional orchestration capture the majesty and reverence of the Christmas season. Listening to "The Holly and the Ivy" can bring a sense of peace and joy to anyone who hears it, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas and the great love of God for all humanity.

Line by Line Meaning

The holly and the ivy
This song talks about the holly and ivy plants as they both grow in the forest.

When they are both full grown
Both holly and ivy plants are mature when they reach their full sizes.

Of all the trees
Out of all the plants that grow in the forest,

That are in the wood,
these are two of the most beloved plants.

The holly wears the crown
The holly plant is considered the best among all the plants in the forest.

O' the rising of the sun
At sunrise,

The running of the deer
Deer running through the forest,

The playing of the merry organ
The delightful and upbeat sounds of the organ playing,

Sweet singing in the choir
The joyous singing of the choir,

The holly bears a blossom
The holly plant produces beautiful blossoms,

As white as lily flower
which are just as white as the flowers of a lily plant.

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
This line refers to the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Mary gave birth to.

To be our sweet Savior
Jesus came into the world to be our savior.

The holly bears a berry
The holly plant also produces berries,

As red as any blood
which are a deep red color, similar to the color of blood.

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Once again, this line talks about the birth of Jesus Christ.

To do poor sinners good
Jesus came to earth to do good for those who are considered poor sinners.

The holly bears a prickle
The leaves of the holly plant have sharp edges and are prickly to the touch,

As sharp as any thorn
comparable to the sharpness of a thorn on a rose plant.

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Once again, this line talks about the birth of Jesus Christ.

On Christmas day in the morn
This line marks the timing of Jesus Christ's birth, which is traditionally celebrated on December 25th (Christmas day).

The holly bears a bark
The bark of holly plant is tough and scabrous,

As bitter as any gall
and has a bitter taste, similar to gall which is a bitter substance found in bile.

And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Once again, this line talks about the birth of Jesus Christ.

For to redeem us all
Jesus Christ was born to save and redeem all humanity from their sins.

The holly and the ivy
This song closes with a repetition of the opening lines, about the holly and ivy plants.

When they are both full grown
Both holly and ivy plants are mature when they reach their full sizes.

Of all the trees
Out of all the plants that grow in the forest,

That are in the wood,
these are two of the most beloved plants.

The holly wears the crown
The holly plant is considered the best among all the plants in the forest.

Sweet singing in the choir
The joyous singing of the choir.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, 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

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