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Chords and Lyrics for The Holly and the Ivy

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Traditional Music
Traditional Lyrics

VERSE 1

    G         C   G  
The holly and the ivy,

C    G             C    D 
When they are both full grown,

   G                      C      G 
Of all the trees that are in the wood,

Em  G           D   G 
The holly bears the crown.

  
REFRAIN

C   G         C   G 
The rising of the sun 

C       G          C   D 
And the running of the deer,

    G       Em     C     G Em 
The playing of the merry organ,

      G          D   G 
Sweet singing in the choir. 

  
VERSE 2

    G           C G  
The holly bears a blossom,

C  G           C D 
As white as lily flow'r,

    G               C     G 
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

Em G            D  G 
To be our sweet savior.

  
REFRAIN

C   G         C   G 
The rising of the sun 

C       G          C   D 
And the running of the deer,

    G       Em     C     G Em 
The playing of the merry organ,

      G          D   G 
Sweet singing in the choir. 

  
VERSE 3

    G           C G 
The holly bears a berry,

C  G        C D 
As red as any blood;

    G               C     G 
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

Em G          D    G 
To do poor sinners good.

  
REFRAIN

C   G         C   G 
The rising of the sun 

C       G          C   D 
And the running of the deer,

    G       Em     C     G Em 
The playing of the merry organ,

      G          D   G 
Sweet singing in the choir. 

  
VERSE 4

    G           C G 
The holly bears a prickle,	

C  G          C D 
As sharp as any thorn;

    G               C     G 
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

Em G                D   G 
On Christmas day in the morn.

  
REFRAIN

C   G         C   G 
The rising of the sun 

C       G          C   D 
And the running of the deer,

    G       Em     C     G Em 
The playing of the merry organ,

      G          D   G 
Sweet singing in the choir. 

  
VERSE 5

  
    G           C G 
The holly bears a bark,

C  G           C D 
As bitter as any gall;

    G               C     G 
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,

Em  G         D  G 
For to redeem us all.

  
REFRAIN

C   G         C   G 
The rising of the sun 

C       G          C   D 
And the running of the deer,

    G       Em     C     G Em 
The playing of the merry organ,

      G          D   G 
Sweet singing in the choir.

VERSE 6

    G         C   G 
The holly and the ivy

C    G             C    D 
When they are both full grown;

   G                      C      G 
Of all the trees that are in the wood,

Em  G           D   G 
The holly bears the crown.

  
REFRAIN

C   G         C   G 
The rising of the sun 

C       G          C   D 
And the running of the deer,

    G       Em     C     G Em 
The playing of the merry organ,

      G          D   G 
Sweet singing in the choir.

More Like This

Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo C Major D Major E Minor G Major
Guitar C Major D Major E Minor G Major
Mandolin C Major D Major E Minor G Major
Piano C Major D Major E Minor G Major
Ukulele C Major D Major E Minor G Major

Sheet Music for The Holly and the Ivy

Chords on this page may be simplified from the original version. View the sheet music for this title to see the original chords. The following sheet music is available for this title: