Countless musicians have performed and re-injected life into traditional songs with examples ranging from Thin Lizzy's (and later Metallica's) Whiskey in a Jar (traditional Irish song) to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's latest collaboration Among The Gold.
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The Twelve Days of Christmas
Traditional 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 forth 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 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 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 eight 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 traditional Christmas carol that tells the story of a generous gift giver who presents their true love with increasingly elaborate and unusual gifts each day in the twelve days of Christmas. The song begins on the first day of Christmas with a partridge in a pear tree and ends on the twelfth day with twelve drummers drumming, creating a cumulative effect throughout the song where the gifts of each day are repeated in the following verses, adding one new gift every time.
At first glance, the song may seem like a fun counting game, but it has a deeper meaning tied to religious symbolism. Each gift represents a different Christian virtue, with the partridge in a pear tree representing Jesus Christ and the two turtle doves signifying the Old and New Testaments. The three French hens stand for the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, while the four calling birds represent the four Gospels. The gold rings are symbolic of the first five books of the Old Testament, and the six geese a-laying represent the six days of creation. The seven swans a-swimming symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the eight maids a-milking represent the eight Beatitudes. The nine ladies dancing symbolize the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the ten lords a-leaping represent the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping symbolize the eleven faithful apostles, and the twelve drummers drumming represent the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
In conclusion, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is not just a fun holiday song but also represents the Christian faith and the importance of generosity and kindness towards loved ones. The song is a perfect reminder of how we should celebrate the holiday season and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas
I received a gift from my true love on the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
My true love gave me a series of gifts that increased in number each day
A partridge in a pear tree.
A bird called a partridge sitting on a tree called a pear tree.
Two turtle doves
Two birds called turtle doves
Three french hens
Three hens from France
Four calling birds
Four birds which are known for their singing
Five golden rings
Five rings made out of gold
Six geese a-laying
Six geese that were in the process of laying eggs
Seven swans a-swimming
Seven swans that were swimming
Eight maids a-milking
Eight women who were milking cows
Nine ladies dancing
Nine women who were dancing
Ten lords a-leaping
Ten men who were jumping
Eleven pipers piping
Eleven men playing musical instruments called pipes
Twelve drummers drumming
Twelve men playing musical instruments called drums
Contributed by Carter C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kennedywilliams8735
A partridge in a pear tree
Two turtle doves
Three French hens
Four calling doves
Five golden rings
Six geese a laying
Seven swans a swimming
Eight maids a milking
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords a leaping
Eleven pipers piping
Twelve drummers drumming
@Hi-ff3vg
0:16 Partridge in a pear tree
0:24 Two Turtle Doves
0:35 Three French Hens
0:47 Four Calling Birds
1:01 Five Golden Rings
1:20 Six Geese A-Laying
1:40 Seven Swams A-Swimming
2:02 Eight Maids A-Milking
2:26 Nine Ladies Dancing
2:50 Ten Lords A-Leaping
3:17 Eleven Pipers Piping
3:45 Twelve Drummers Drummuing
@henrymoss5272
So, all told, over the 12 Days of Christmas, the singer received:
12 partridges in a pear tree
22 turtle doves
30 French hens
36 calling birds
40 golden rings
42 geese a laying
42 swans a swimming
40 maids a milking
36 ladies dancing
30 lords a leaping
22 pipers piping
and 12 drummers drumming.
They must have been extra good that year!
@mothiethedoll
on the month of christmas my parents sent to me:
12 minutes of gaming.
11 chores need done.
10 corner dustings.
9 dishes need washing.
8 floor sweepings.
7 younger ones to look after.
6 hours of sleeping.
✨✨✨5 DAYS OFF SCHOOL ✨✨✨
4 times of law-mowing.
3 pages of homework.
2 walks a day,
and a week of ✨✨✨ WINTER HOLIDAY ✨✨✨
@scrungly
in total, they now have:
12 partridges in pear trees
22 turtle doves
30 french hens
36 calling birds
40 golden rings
42 geese a-laying
42 swans a-swimming
40 maids a-milking
36 ladies dancing
30 lords a-leaping
22 pipers piping
12 drummers drumming
@kurumi394
On the fourth year of Uni my school life led to me
Twelve page essays
Eleven final tests
Ten hour shifts
Nine interviews
Eight different bills
Seven tiring days
Six dollar wages
Five student loans
Four daily pills
Three roommates
Two probations
And a partridge in a pear tree!
@Livvy561
During the month I came back to school
My teacher sent to me
12 pages of homework
11 times tables
10 questions I don’t know
9 anxiety attacks
8 hours of doing it
7 thoughts of sleeping
6 trips to ✨the dump✨
5 hours of crying
4 pens (all the others ran out)
3 minutes to rest
2 hours left
1 minute till hometime 🤟🤟
@kennedywilliams8735
A partridge in a pear tree
Two turtle doves
Three French hens
Four calling doves
Five golden rings
Six geese a laying
Seven swans a swimming
Eight maids a milking
Nine ladies dancing
Ten lords a leaping
Eleven pipers piping
Twelve drummers drumming
@duzital
We know the bloody lyrics mate🦫
@prabhubalan5883
Thank you , helped a lot
@stevegiles4549
*Four colly birds
@pokey1853
"Four calling birds"@@stevegiles4549
@adeniyiaderibigbe6776
@@duzital 98
@Hi-ff3vg
0:16 Partridge in a pear tree
0:24 Two Turtle Doves
0:35 Three French Hens
0:47 Four Calling Birds
1:01 Five Golden Rings
1:20 Six Geese A-Laying
1:40 Seven Swams A-Swimming
2:02 Eight Maids A-Milking
2:26 Nine Ladies Dancing
2:50 Ten Lords A-Leaping
3:17 Eleven Pipers Piping
3:45 Twelve Drummers Drummuing
@kieranFN
👏 👏
@gbmlbb9699
Stop spoiling
@kieranFN
@@gbmlbb9699 have u never heard this song