Christmas Carols

The Holly and The Ivy - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

The Holly and the Ivy is an English Christmas Carol that was first collected by Cecil Sharp.

Chords

F      C              F     C
The holly and the ivy,

           Am                   F G
When they are both full grown,

C     Em    F        Am       F         G7
Of   all the trees that are in the wood

Am C                 G     C
The holly bears the crown.

          C              F    C
O the rising of the sun,

               Am              F    G
And the running of the deer,

C     Em         F    Am    F         G7
The playing of   the    merry organ,

            C                G7 C
Sweet singing in the choir.

F      C                 F C
The holly bears a blossom

     Am                 F G
As white as the lily flower,

C      Em    F       Am    F        G7
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

Am C                 G     C
To   be a sweet Saviour.

          C              F    C
O the rising of the sun,

               Am              F    G
And the running of the deer,

C     Em         F    Am    F         G7
The playing of   the    merry organ,

            C                G7 C
Sweet singing in the choir.

F     C                  F C
The holly bears a berry

     Am           F G
As red as any blood,

C      Em    F       Am    F        G7
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

Am C            G           C
To   do poor sinners good.

          C              F    C
O the rising of the sun,

               Am              F    G
And the running of the deer,

C     Em         F    Am    F         G7
The playing of   the    merry organ,

            C                G7 C
Sweet singing in the choir.

F      C                 F C
The holly bears a prickle

      Am              F G
As sharp as any thorn,

C      Em    F       Am    F        G7
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

Am C                        G        C
On   Christmas Day in the morn.

          C              F    C
O the rising of the sun,

               Am              F    G
And the running of the deer,

C     Em         F    Am    F         G7
The playing of   the    merry organ,

            C                G7 C
Sweet singing in the choir.

F     C                  F C
The holly bears a bark

      Am         F G
As bitter as any gall,

C      Em    F       Am    F        G7
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

Am C      G             C
For to redeem us all.

          C              F    C
O the rising of the sun,

               Am              F    G
And the running of the deer,

C     Em         F    Am    F         G7
The playing of   the    merry organ,

            C                G7 C
Sweet singing in the choir.

F      C              F     C
The holly and the ivy,

           Am                   F G
When they are both full grown,

C     Em    F        Am       F         G7
Of   all the trees that are in the wood

Am C                 G     C
The holly bears the crown.

          C              F    C
O the rising of the sun,

               Am              F    G
And the running of the deer,

C     Em         F    Am    F         G7
The playing of   the    merry organ,

            C                G7 C
Sweet singing in the choir.

Lyrics

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be a sweet Saviour.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full-well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir.