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Christmas Carols · No. 15 · Words: Traditional English
The Holly And The Ivy
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →A traditional English carol, likely pre-Reformation in origin, that uses the symbolic imagery of holly and ivy to represent aspects of Christ's life and passion. It was widely circulated in broadsides around 1700.
Verse 1
The holly and the ivy,
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees within the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
Chorus
O the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
Verse 2
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as any flow'r,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Savior.
Verse 3
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To do poor sinners good.
Verse 4
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
On Christmas Day in the morn.
Verse 5
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as the gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all.
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