The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Choirs and Orchestra of Brigham Young University Lyrics
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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 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 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 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 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 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 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 sent to 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 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 golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
The popular Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", is a cumulative song that lists the gifts given by a true love over the twelve days of Christmas. The song starts with a partridge in a pear tree and adds a new gift every day, with the final verse listing all twelve gifts. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, where the persona receives a partridge in a pear tree from their true love. The second verse adds two turtle doves, while the third verse lists three French hens. The fourth verse introduces four calling birds, and the fifth verse includes the iconic five golden rings. The sixth verse includes six geese a-laying, while the seventh verse lists seven swans a-swimming. The eighth verse adds eight maids a-milking, while the ninth verse includes nine ladies dancing. The tenth verse features ten lords a-leaping, and the eleventh verse has eleven pipers piping. Finally, in the twelfth verse, the persona receives twelve drummers drumming on the last day of Christmas.
The lyrics to "The Twelve Days of Christmas" tells the story of a person receiving increasing grand gifts from their true love every day until they receive the ultimate gift of twelve drummers drumming. The song has become a classic holiday tradition in many cultures, and its origins remain unclear. While the song sounds like a joyful celebration of gift-giving, some historians suggest that the lyrics may have had hidden religious meanings during a time when Catholicism was illegal in England. Some believe that the gift of the partridge in a pear tree may represent Jesus Christ and the pear tree, the cross. Similarly, the two turtle doves may represent the Old and New Testaments, while the three French hens may symbolize faith, hope, and love. Regardless of its interpretation, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" remains a timeless classic, enjoyed by young and old alike during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent me a partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent me two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent me three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent 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 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree!
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Traditional
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