DECEMBER 24th, 2015
By LANA CARBON & JOHN LILIES
Most of us have sat around a tree at Christmas time and sang (in our case, very poorly) the 12 Days of Christmas. Originally published as a chant without musical accompaniment in 1780, it wasn’t until 1909 that the English composer Frederic Austin gave us the version we know today.
I thought I would write out the song to see how close I came to the original and was shocked to see I was right for a change. It usually takes me a few times to remember the correct order of the lyrics and I wondered if I was the only one. So of course I asked John to see how close she came to the proper order. I must say, I was in for a treat.
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12 Days – The John Version
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 5 maids a milking, 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 6 swans a swimming, 5 maids a milking…
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 7 pipers piping…
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 8 drummers drumming…
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 9 ladies laughing…
On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 10 lords a leaping…
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 11 bats eating pizza (I think John got a little lost at this point)…
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 bottles of vodka, 11 bats eating pizza, 10 nerds in a barn, 9 cats drinking milk, 8 puppies playing fetch, 7 hamsters running in a circle, 6 maids playing tag, 5 drummers drumming, 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in my fried brain.
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Surprisingly, these are not the right lyrics (I know, it blew my mind too).
Do you know the actual lyrics? Do you have your own version you’d like to share? Email us with your version or recollection and we may choose to share it here on the blog!
Speaking of alternative versions, many artists have recorded different takes on what kind of gift-giving occurred during these 12 days. Here are a few of the more popular (and humourous) takes on the traditional classic.
Bob and Doug Mackenzie – 12 Days of Christmas
Jeff Foxworthy – 12 Redneck Days of Christmas
Bob Rivers – 12 Pains of Christmas
Fay McKay – 12 Daze of Christmas
(As always if you have suggestions to others we should look into please just let us know in the comment section here or on our Facebook page or Twitter.)
Over the course of writing about our December theme, we became inspired and even managed to pen our own version of the song that we know you will want to sing while sitting around your fireplace this year… after imbibing in a few eggnogs perhaps.
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The Carbon Lilies 12 Days of Christmas
On the 1st Day of Christmas my true love gave to me an article for our blog.
On the 2nd Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 3rd Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 4th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 5th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 6th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 7th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 7 movie passes, 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 8th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 8 elusive éclairs, 7 movie passes, 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 9th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 9 margaritas, 8 elusive éclairs, 7 movie passes, 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 10th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 10 Spooktacular people, 9 margaritas, 8 elusive éclairs, 7 movie passes, 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 11th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 11 art exhibits, 10 Spooktacular people, 9 margaritas, 8 elusive éclairs, 7 movie passes, 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
On the 12th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 senile ghost hunters, 11 art exhibits, 10 Spooktacular people, 9 margaritas, 8 elusive éclairs, 7 movie passes, 6 road trip stories, 5 Haunted Walks, 4 Big Séance hoodies, 3 weeks of transcribing, 2 ponche de crème and an article for our blog.
To be totally honest, we would have loved to have recorded this to share with you all but a lack of time and any discernible singing talent whatsoever prevented that from happening. Who knows, maybe one day we can include it in our list of 12 Christmas songs.
Happy 12 Days everyone… make them musical!!
(You can email us at carbonlilies@hotmail.com)
