The “straight” form of today’s song drives me a bit nutty. Musically, it’s weird and messed up. Totally un-symmetrical (brings out my inner Death the Kid, I swear . . .), lol. Seven verses. The fifth acts like a bridge, but isn’t. The melody us uniform verses 6-12, and all all different 1-5. Why is 5 different? The words don’t need such a change. Makes no sense!

The history of the song is unclear, as well. People have tried to put meanings to the verses, but there’s no evidence for these meanings being the “original” meanings. It is assumed that the Twelve Days are the days from Christmas to Epiphany. The fifth day in this set up would be December 29th. The only thing notable about the 29th is it is the Feast of St. Thomas a Becket.

Bu~ut, if you slide the days back to the average date of Winter Solstice, then the first day is Dec 21, the Fifth Day is Christmas Day, and the Twelfth day is New Years Day. There’s not reason to believe this has anything to do with any “true meanings” (although, fitting it in with the “catechism” explanation, with Jesus as the Partridge, Mary the Pear Tree, and the description of the partridge being in the pear tree. . .).

This is all sheer speculation, me trying to make sense of something that is like non-nonsensical to begin with.

What I do know, is that I grew up with the Muppet’s version, and thought that Mrs. Piggy’s “Ba-dum-bum!” was supposed to be part of the song. Then, several years ago, an a capella version of the song went viral, and was (IMHO) instrumental in reviving a capella music as a cultural thing in this country. Here they are:

oh, and can’t forget this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypd76zNJ5Xs

Post your favorite versions in the comments!