The Twelve Days of Christmas
Perry Como;with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra & Chorus Lyrics
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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 layin'
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 swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 pipers pipin'
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 ladies dancin'
Nine pipers pipin'
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 Lords a leapin'
Ten ladies dancin'
Nine pipers pipin'
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 drummers drummin'
Eleven Lords a leapin'
Ten ladies dancin'
Nine pipers pipin'
Eight maids milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 traditional Christmas song with an unknown origin. The song, as seen in the above lyrics, is a cumulative song, where each verse is built on top of the previous verses. Over the twelve days of Christmas, the singer receives gifts from their true love, with each day having its corresponding item. The song is often used in Christmas festivities, especially in the United States, England, and Canada.
The song starts by mentioning the gifts from day one to the last until the final twelfth day. The first day brings a partridge in a pear tree, which is a symbol of Jesus Christ, just as the pear tree represented the cross. The second day introduces two turtle doves, which signify the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, while the three French hens on the next day represent faith, hope, and love. The fourth day brings calling birds, signifying the four evangelists that wrote the Gospels, while the fifth and sixth days bring five golden rings and six geese laying eggs, respectively.
On the seventh day, swans, a symbol of grace and purity in Christianity, swim in the singer's garden. The gifts from day eight to twelve bring maids milking, pipers piping, ladies dancing, lords leaping, and finally, twelve drummers drumming. Some analysts perceive this song as a secret catechism song, where children draw value and knowledge in the Catholic faith, which kept their practices illegal in England.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas
The first day of the Christmas season, which symbolizes love and giving
My true love gave to me
Someone very special in my life presented me with
A partridge in a pear tree
A bird sitting on a tree's branch, which is believed to represent Jesus Christ
Two turtle doves
Two birds symbolizing the Old and New Testaments of the Bible
Three French hens
Three birds that represent the three Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love
Four calling birds
Four birds that represent the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
Five golden rings
Five rings that symbolize the first five books of the Old Testament
Six geese a layin'
Six birds representing the six days of creation in the Book of Genesis
Seven swans a swimmin'
Seven birds that refer to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids a milkin'
Eight maids symbolizing the eight beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount
Nine pipers pipin'
Nine pipers signifying the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten ladies dancin'
Ten dancers representing the Ten Commandments
Eleven Lords a leapin'
Eleven lords symbolizing the eleven faithful Apostles of Jesus Christ
Twelve drummers drummin'
Twelve drummers standing for the twelve statements of faith in the Apostles' Creed
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
IVORIESMAN
Super double A side - must look out for this one. Again, a great version.
OldiesAl
I was amazed they got nearly 4 minutes on a 10 incher
IVORIESMAN
Haha - I should be so lucky...:-)))
You're right Al - who said 45s had the first microgroove...