The Holly And The Ivy
Norwich Cathedral Choir Lyrics
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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 Saviour
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 song "The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional Christmas carol that dates back to the 18th century in England, with roots even further back in pagan winter festivals that celebrated the end of the year and the coming of the new year. The lyrics praise the holly and the ivy, two plants that were commonly used for decoration during the holiday season. The first verse states, "The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown." This refers to the holly's prominent status as a symbol of honor and strength, as its sharp leaves and red berries represented Christ's crown of thorns and the blood he shed on the cross.
The second verse speaks to the religious significance of the holly, comparing its white blossoms to the purity of the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, and the red berries to the sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity. The third verse mentions the holly's prickly leaves and compares them to the thorns on the crown of Christ, reminding listeners of his suffering. The fourth verse touches upon the bitterness of the holly's bark and how it represents the pain that Christ endured to save humanity from their sins. The final verse brings the focus back to the holly's status as the crown bearer, proclaiming "Now the holly bears a berry/As red as any blood/And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ/To do poor sinners good."
Overall, the song blends Christian symbolism with pagan traditions, and its lyrics encourage joyful celebration of Christ's birth, tempered with recognition of the suffering that he endured.
Line by Line Meaning
The holly and the ivy,
The song is about both the holly and ivy plants.
When they are both full grown
The plants are described when they reach maturity.
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly is described as superior to all other trees.
The holly bears the crown
The holly plant is royalty among trees.
O the rising of the sun
The beauty and splendor of nature is being celebrated.
And the running of the deer
The freedom and wildness of nature is being celebrated.
The playing of the merry organ
The happy sounds of music are being celebrated.
Sweet singing of the choir
The joyful singing of a choir is being celebrated.
The holly bears a blossom
The holly plant has flowers that are similar to lilies.
As white as lily flower
The holly plant has very white flowers that look like lilies.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave birth to him.
To be our sweet Saviour
Jesus was sent to be the redeemer of humanity.
The holly bears a berry
The holly plant produces berries.
As red as any blood
The holly berries are a bright red color, similar to blood.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus.
To do poor sinners good
Jesus' birth was to help poor sinners.
The holly bears a prickle
The holly plant has sharp thorns.
As sharp as any thorn;
The holly thorns are very sharp.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus.
On Christmas Day in the morn.
Jesus was born on Christmas morning.
The holly bears a bark
The bark of the holly plant is described.
As bitter as any gall;
The bark is very bitter to the taste.
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
Mary gave birth to Jesus.
For to redeem us all.
Jesus was sent to save all of humanity.
The holly and the ivy
The two plants are mentioned again at the end of the song.
Now both are full well grown,
Both plants have now matured.
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
Again, the holly is mentioned as superior to all other trees.
The holly bears the crown.
The holly plant is still described as royalty among trees.
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