The Holly and the Ivy

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

The run­ning of the deer

The play­ing of the mer­ry or­gan

Sweet sing­ing in the quire

Sweet sing­ing in the quire.

The Hol­ly bears a blos­som

As white as lily-flow­er;

And Ma­ry bore sweet Je­sus Christ

To be our sweet Sav­ior.

The Hol­ly bears a ber­ry

As red as any blood;

And Ma­ry bore sweet Je­sus Christ

To do poor sin­ners good.

The Hol­ly bears a pric­kle

As sharp as any thorn;

And Ma­ry bore sweet Je­sus Christ

On Christ­mas Day in the morn.

The Hol­ly bears a bark

As bit­ter as any gall;

And Ma­ry bore sweet Je­sus Christ

For to re­deem us all.

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.