The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Muppets & John Denver 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
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave 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 gave to me
Five gold 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
Five gold 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
Six geese a-laying
Five gold 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
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
Me me me me me me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
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
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
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
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, badam-pam-pam
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
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, badam-pam-pam
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
The song titled "12 Days of Christmas" is a traditional Christmas carol that tells a story of a romantic relationship between the singer and his or her true love. The carol consists of twelve gifts that the singer's true love has given to him or her over the twelve days of Christmas. The song begins with a partridge in a pear tree and escalates to twelve drummers drumming as each verse adds one more gift to the list. The repetition of the gifts is a significant aspect of the song, as each day includes the gifts from previous days, creating a cumulative effect.
The song's lyrics are thought to have originated in France, but it was first published in England in 1780. The song has since become a holiday essential, and numerous versions have been recorded by various artists over the years, including the popular version by The Muppets. The gifts listed in the song hold symbolic meanings, and interpretations may vary based on cultural and religious contexts. Some argue that the gifts represent biblical references, symbolize the twelve months of the year, or hold political relevance in a historical context.
The song's repetitive structure and catchy tune make it an enjoyable sing-along for holiday gatherings. It's a traditional song that is still beloved today, and it's not uncommon to hear it playing everywhere during the festive season.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas
On the second day of Christmas
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas
On the third day of Christmas
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
On the fourth day of Christmas
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
On the fifth day of Christmas
Five gold rings
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
On the sixth day of Christmas
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
On the seventh day of Christmas
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
On the eighth day of Christmas
Eight maids a-milking
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings
Five gold rings
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
On the ninth day of Christmas
Me me me me me me
Me me me me me me
Nine ladies dancing
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
On the tenth day of Christmas
Ten lords a-leaping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
On the eleventh day of Christmas
Eleven pipers piping
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
On the twelfth day of Christmas
Twelve drummers drumming
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Six geese a-laying
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Five gold rings, badam-pam-pam
Four calling birds
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And a partridge in a pear tree
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind