The Twelve Days of Christmas
Royal College Of Music Chamber Choir 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...etc.
My true love gave to me:
Three french hens...etc.
On the forth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Four calling birds...etc.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Five golden rings...etc.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Six geese a-laying...etc.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Seven swans a-swimming...etc.
On the eight day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eight maids a-milking...etc.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Nine ladies dancing...etc.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Ten lords a-leaping...etc.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
'Leven pipers piping...etc.
On the Twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve drummers drumming...etc.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a popular Christmas song that reflects the spirit of giving. Each day, the singer's true love sends them a gift, adding onto the previous day's gift. The song starts with "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a partridge in a pear tree," and progresses up to "Twelve drummers drumming" on the twelfth day.
The song has its roots in European folk tradition and was first published in 1780 in a children's book called "Mirth Without Mischief." However, the origins of the song are uncertain, and it's unclear whether it was intended to have a deeper meaning or was simply a fun holiday song. The song's popularity grew in the Victorian era, and it became a common Christmas carol in England and the United States.
While the lyrics may seem nonsensical on the surface, some interpretations suggest that the 12 days of Christmas correspond to the period between Christmas Day (December 25th) and the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th). The gifts given on each day may also have symbolic meanings, such as the partridge in a pear tree representing Jesus Christ and the two turtle doves representing the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave me a partridge that was sitting in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves...etc.
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...etc.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave me three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree
On the forth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Four calling birds...etc.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave 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...etc.
On the fifth day of Christmas, 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 sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Six geese a-laying...etc.
On the sixth day of Christmas, 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 seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Seven swans a-swimming...etc.
On the seventh day of Christmas, 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 eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eight maids a-milking...etc.
On the eighth day of Christmas, 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 ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Nine ladies dancing...etc.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave 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...etc.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave 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:
'Leven pipers piping...etc.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave 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 Twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve drummers drumming...etc.
On the Twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave me twelve drummers drumming, 'leven 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
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