The Twelve Days of Christmas
The Starlite Orchestra & Singers Lyrics
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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
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 goldenen 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 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 gave 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 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 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 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 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 timeless Christmas carol with an unusual lyrical structure where the gifts kept on adding up each day for twelve days. The song is believed to have originated in England in the eighteenth century and has become a popular Christmas tune around the world. The opening verse is set on Christmas Day, where the singer receives a partridge in a pear tree from their true love. The second verse adds two turtle doves to the partridge and pear tree from the first day, and the pattern continues until the last verse, where the singer receives a total of twelve different gifts.
The symbolism of each gift is often debated. Some historians suggest that the gifts are likened to religious symbolism, with the partridge in a pear tree supposed to represent Jesus Christ and the two turtle doves representing the Old and New Testaments. Others argue that the gifts are just simple tokens of affection, and their significance is open to interpretation. Despite this ambiguity, the song remains a firm festive favorite that has transcended time and culture.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
The gift-giving season has started, and on this very beginning day, my true love presented me with something special.
A partridge in a pear tree
This is a reference to the partridge, which represents Jesus Christ, who is said to have sacrificed his life for the world's sins, and the pear tree, which represents the cross on which he was crucified.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
It appears that my true love has decided to continue the gifting trend from yesterday.
Two turtle doves, and
Turtle doves symbolize harmony and love, and two of them represent the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible, which speak about love, forgiveness, and other virtues.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Surprisingly, my true love has continued to shower me with gifts, and this is the third day in a row.
Three french hens
These hens likely represent the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
It seems that my true love is determined to make this year's Christmas extra special and unforgettable.
Four calling birds
Calling birds refer to four gospels of the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - which call upon readers to repent and follow the teachings of the Lord.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
The gifting tradition seems to be gaining momentum, and it's the fifth day now.
Five goldenen rings
These rings symbolize the first five books of the Holy Bible, which are called the Pentateuch and represent the covenant between God and Israelites at Mount Sinai.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
My true love is really outdoing themselves this year, and six gifts in a row are a testament to that.
Six geese a-laying
These geese are representative of the six days on which God created the earth according to the Holy Bible.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
It's now the seventh day of Christmas, and my true love has kept up this tradition longer than I had expected.
Seven swans a-swimming
Swans are symbols of grace and purity, and these seven swans represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
As time progresses, the gifts seem to grow in number and value, making it clear that my true love really cares about their relationship with me.
Eight maids a-milking
These maids are believed to represent the eight Beatitudes - blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for their righteousness.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
It's the ninth day of Christmas, and I can hardly believe that this gifting tradition has lasted so long.
Nine ladies dancing
These nine ladies symbolize the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
At this point, it's clear that my true love has put a lot of thought and effort into each and every gift, and I'm incredibly grateful for their love and commitment.
Ten lords a-leaping
These lords are believed to represent the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
As we near the end of the twelve days of Christmas, I can't help but feel blessed and grateful for having such a thoughtful and loving true love in my life.
Eleven pipers piping
These pipers represent the eleven faithful apostles of Jesus Christ, who devoted their lives to spreading the gospel in the years after his crucifixion.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
It's the final day of the gifting season, and I couldn't be more thankful or appreciative of each and every gift that my true love has given me over the past twelve days.
Twelve drummers drumming
These drummers represent the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed, which is a statement of faith that many Christians believe defines the basic tenets of their religion.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind