The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Fireside Singers Lyrics
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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
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of christmas my true love sent to me
Four colly 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
Four colly 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
Four colly 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
Four colly 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
Four colly birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the nineth 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
Four colly 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
Four colly 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 gold rings
Four colly birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the twelth 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
Four colly birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree
The Twelve Days of Christmas is a traditional Christmas carol that has been popular for centuries. The song is about a person's true love sending them gifts over a period of twelve days, with the gift for each day building on the previous day's gift. The song starts with the gift of a partridge in a pear tree and ends with twelve drummers drumming. The lyrics of the song are repetitive, as each verse repeats the previous day's gift and adds a new gift.
The song has several interpretations, mainly that the gifts symbolize things significant either to Christianity or British culture. For example, the partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus Christ, while the two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments. Additionally, the three French hens represent the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, while the five golden rings symbolize the first five books of the Bible. The other gifts have various meanings and interpretations as well, depending on the source.
The Twelve Days of Christmas has become one of the most popular Christmas songs worldwide. The song has been covered by numerous artists and has been used in various movies, TV shows, and commercials. The melody has also been used in many other songs, including the popular Louis Armstrong song "What a Wonderful World." The song's popularity has led to various adaptations, including parodies such as "The Twelve Pains of Christmas" and "The Twelve Days After Christmas."
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me a partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the first day.
On the second day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me two turtle doves along with the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the second day.
On the third day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the third day.
On the fourth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the fourth day.
On the fifth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the fifth day.
On the sixth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the sixth day.
On the seventh day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the seventh day.
On the eighth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the eighth day.
On the nineth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the ninth day.
On the tenth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave me ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the tenth day.
On the eleventh day of christmas my true love sent to me
My 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 gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the eleventh day.
On the twelth day of christmas my true love sent to me
My love gave 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, four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and the partridge bird in a pear tree as a Christmas gift on the twelfth day.
Writer(s): Robert R. De Cormier Jr.
Contributed by Arianna J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.