The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby with Vic Schoen and His Orchestra Lyrics

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On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

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

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent 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 sent to me
Five gold rings (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 sent to me
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (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 sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (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 sent to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (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 sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (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 sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
I sent eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtledoves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings (five golden rings)
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtledoves

And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree

Overall Meaning

The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a popular Christmas carol that tells the story of a true love who sends their partner a series of increasingly elaborate and outlandish gifts over the twelve days of Christmas. Each verse begins with the phrase "On the x day of Christmas, my true love sent to me" and ends with a list of all the gifts the singer has received up to that point. The gifts supposedly symbolize various Christian religious concepts, but the song is mostly known for its catchy tune and fun, cumulative structure.

The first day of Christmas is relatively simple, with the singer receiving a partridge in a pear tree. However, the gifts quickly become more complicated and numerous, with highlights including five gold rings, seven swans a-swimming, and twelve drummers drumming. The repetition of gifts from previous verses adds to the cumulative effect of the song, and the final verse is particularly impressive as it lists all twelve gifts in order. The song typically ends with the line "and a partridge in a pear tree," which loops back to the beginning and gives the impression that the singer is starting the whole process over again.

Despite its popularity, the origins of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" are unclear. Some sources suggest that the song originated in France, while others attribute it to England. The symbolism of the gifts is also much debated - some interpretations suggest that they are religious symbols (e.g. the four calling birds represent the four Gospels), while others suggest that they are simply extravagant presents. Despite the various interpretations, the song remains a beloved part of many people's holiday traditions, and its catchy tune and sing-along structure make it a fun group activity.

Line by Line Meaning

On the first day of Christmas
At the beginning of the Christmas season

My true love sent to me
I received from my beloved

A partridge in a pear tree
A bird in a fruit tree

On the second day of Christmas
One day later

Two turtle doves
Two pigeons

And a partridge in a pear tree
And the same bird in the same tree

On the third day of Christmas
Another day passed

Three French hens
Three chickens from France

On the fourth day of Christmas
Another day has come and gone

Four calling birds
Four songbirds

On the fifth day of Christmas
Five days into the season