The Twelve Days of Christmas
Spinners (The) Lyrics
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My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree!
Two turtle doves
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
Three french hens
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Four calling birds
On the fourth day of Christmas (what's a calling bird)
My true love sent to me
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Five golden rings!
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Six geese a layin'
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent 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!
Seven swans a swimmin'
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent 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!
Eight maids a milkin'
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds (calling birds)
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Nine ladies dancin'
On the ninth day of christmas
My true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancin'
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!
Ten lords a leapin'
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancin'
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!
Eleven pipers pipin'
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven pipers pipin'
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancin'
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!
Twelve drummers drummin'
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drummin'
Eleven pipers pipin'
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancin'
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 Christmas song that has been popular for centuries. The song tells the story of someone's true love who sends them a series of gifts each day for 12 days, culminating in a total of 364 gifts by the end of the song, not including the partridge! Each verse represents a different day, with a new gift being added to the list while the previous gifts continue to be repeated.
The opening line of the song is "On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, a partridge in a pear tree." The song continues with each day receiving a new gift, such as two turtle doves, three French hens, and so on. Some gifts, like the partridge and turtle doves, have religious significance, while others, like the lords a-leaping and ladies dancing, were more secular and represented forms of entertainment. The song culminates in a grand finale with 12 drummers drumming.
Although the meaning behind the lyrics has been debated, the true origin of the song is uncertain. Some believe that the song originated as a children's game in France, while others believe that it originated as a form of catechism, with each gift representing a different aspect of the Christian faith. Regardless of its origins, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has become one of the most recognizable and beloved Christmas songs of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas
At the beginning of this song's story
My true love sent to me
The one I love has given me a gift
A partridge in a pear tree!
A bird in a tree with small fruit
Two turtle doves
Two small birds
On the second day of Christmas
At the start of the second part of the story
Three french hens
Three chickens from France
Four calling birds
Four birds that sing loudly
On the fourth day of Christmas (what's a calling bird)
At the fourth point in the tale (a bird that makes noise)
Five golden rings!
Five circular things made of gold
Six geese a layin'
Six female birds that produce eggs
Seven swans a swimmin'
Seven birds that glide on water
Eight maids a milkin'
Eight women as dairy workers
Nine ladies dancin'
Nine women in motion to music
Ten lords a leapin'
Ten wealthy men jumping in the air
Eleven pipers pipin'
Eleven musicians playing pipes
Twelve drummers drummin'
Twelve people playing percussion instruments
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVEN JAMES BROWN, FREDERIC AUSTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ianwood-zi7fh
I love this perfect harmonies from the fantastic spinners😊
@simonwarner-yu4tm
Whatever happened to them?
@ianwood-zi7fh
Apparently they stopped playing as a band in189 little else is known about them
@paultreadaway102
They the English Spinners these guys not to get mixed up with the American Spinners who did Disco,Funk and Soul mode stuff
@charlottestuart8465
Thanks for uploading this; my absolute favourite version of this song!
@PrayFirstPlayLater
Thanks abunch for this. It was on at my kids school. Love this version.
@Kertesz007
Merry Christmas everybody...I always struggled to remember the words on this song but think I can now lol Anyway...I actually met one of the Spinners who sang this song at Fort Perch Rock New Brighton 20012 and had a chat over a Cup of Tea on a cold morning while making a movie. lol. A great festive tune, It is the best version of the song for me lol
@stefannystrom1551
5 gold rings sounds to be the favorite gift of them all.
@henrithehero
Nah, but that's likely to be a mishearing as well, like the colly birds. Most likely gold pheasants with (white) rings on their necks. The song's all about eating birds.
@tornado-nhl2564
Best verison of the song!