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There are twelve verses, each describing the gifts given by 'my true love' on each of the twelve days of Christmas. So the first verse runs:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.The second verse:
''On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me ''Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.and so on. The last verse is:
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.Several parodies have been written, including the version performed by the Canadian comedy team Bob & Doug Mackenzie, which ends every verse with the three-syllable "and a beer".