Cover art for The Twelve Days of Christmas by Mitch Miller

The Twelve Days of Christmas

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The Twelve Days of Christmas Lyrics

On the first day of Christmas, 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 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 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, wo turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine drummers drumming, 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 pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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 ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, 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 lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming
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

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

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Credits
Release Date
1961
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