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“The Twelve Days of Christmas” (by Roger McGuinn)

Album Description

CURATOR:

WFMU

GENRES:

Blues
Old-Time / Historic
Rock
Folk
Americana
Holiday

Length:04:29:52

From Roger McGuinn's "The Folk Den Project" page:

"In November of 1995 I began a project for the preservation of the music I love, Folk Music. Each month I would record a song, print the lyrics and chords, add a personal note and put it on my web site, mcguinn.com. I wanted everyone to have the opportunity to learn the songs and to be able to sing them with their families and friends, so downloads were offered free of charge."

The lyrics, chords, and notes on each song can be found at the Folk Den Project website.

In 2005, Roger McGuinn released a 4xCD to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the FOLK DEN. The compilation contains 100 favorites re-recorded in 24-bit 44.1 KHz Stereo, and comes with detailed liner notes. The compilation is available at The Folk Den Project.

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Song

The Twelve Days of Christmas (04:01)

100-song best of 4xCD

Track Info

Description

What is a 'colly-bird' in the context of the traditional English song 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'?

'On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me four colly-birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.'

The first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary published the section covering 'colly' in October 1891. It reveals that 'colly' is, or was, an old English word meaning black, from 'coal'. And, it says, a 'colly-bird' is the Blackbird.

Lyrics and chords available from Folk Den Project.

Language

English

Bit Rate

128000

Genres

Folk, Holiday