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The Twelve Days of Christmas

Traditional

 

Most of this song is in 4/4, but chords in [brackets] are in 3/4.

 

Chord Guide
132 D:    xx0232	1 2 A7:  x02020	3    4 G:    3x0003	231 E:    022100

 

Strumming Guide
4/4 Strum: D   D U D   D U 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Click Here to Watch Strum Video	3/4 Strum: D   D U D U 1 + 2 + 3 + Click Here to Watch Strum Video

 

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

     D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

A par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

  A7

Two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A 7(1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

   [A7]                    A7

Three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                         A7 (½)                 D (½)

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                     [A7]                    A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

 D (½)   E (½)    A7

Five    golden  rings.

[D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                       D (½)   E (½)    A7

Six geese-a-laying, Five    golden   rings.

[D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                                [A7]                       D (½)   E (½)    A7

Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five    golden   rings.

[D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                          [A7]                                [A7]

Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,

D (½)   E (½)    A7

Five    golden  rings.

 [D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                      [A7]                            [A7]

Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,

[A7]                       D (½)   E (½)    A7

Six geese-a-laying, five    golden   rings

[D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                      [A7]                       [A7]

Ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking,

[A7]                                [A7]                       D (½)   E (½)    A7

Seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five    golden   rings.

 [D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A (½)                    D (½)

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                       [A7]                       [A7]

Eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping, nine ladies dancing,

[A7]                          [A7]                                 [A7]

Eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying,

D (½)   E (½)    A7

Five    golden  rings.

 [D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

           D                                     A7 (½)                    D (½)

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

[A7]                                      [A7]                     [A7]

Twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords-a-leaping,

[A7]                      [A7]                            [A7]

Nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming,

 [A7]                       D (½)   E (½)    A7

Six geese-a-laying, Five    golden   rings

 [D]                        [G]                      A7

Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves,

            D (1 beat)    G (1 beat)    D (1 beat)      A7 (1 beat)    D

And a  par     -      tridge          in a          pear           tree.

 

This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.