The Twelve days of Christmas is a nicely paced song with a good amount of repetition. Half of the words however are not fantastic ("Eight maids a-milking," for example), so it might be good to alter some parts.
Method[]
The class can be split up into 3 or 4 groups, with the different groups singing different parts of the song. Everyone sings the "On the xth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me" part. Group "A" sings "A partridge in a pear tree", group "B" sings "two turtle doves," etc.
Lyrics[]
Original Lyrics
- On the first day of Christmas,
- my true love sent to me
- 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
- Three French hens,
- Two turtle doves,
- And a partridge in a pear tree.
- On the fourth day of Christmas,
- my true love sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 sent 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 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 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 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 golden rings,
- Four calling birds,
- Three French hens,
- Two turtle doves,
- And a partridge in a pear tree!
Alternative Lyrics
- On the first day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the second day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the third day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the fourth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the fifth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the sixth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the seventh day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Seven cans of cola,
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the eighth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Eight sharks a surfing,
- Seven cans of cola,
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the ninth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Nine new computers,
- Eight sharks a surfing,
- Seven cans of cola,
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the tenth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Ten Trucks a-rolling,
- Nine new computers,
- Eight sharks a surfing,
- Seven cans of cola,
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the eleventh day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Eleven possums playing,
- Ten Trucks a-rolling,
- Nine new computers,
- Eight sharks a surfing,
- Seven cans of cola,
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!
- On the twelfth day of Christmas,
- Santa sent to me
- Twelve pairs of jeans,
- Eleven possums playing,
- Ten Trucks a-rolling,
- Nine new computers,
- Eight sharks a surfing,
- Seven cans of cola,
- Six plates of curry,
- Five diamond rings,
- Four furry bunnies,
- Three soccer balls,
- Two woolen gloves,
- An iPod and a PS3!