The Holly Tree (Sans Day Carol)

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"The Holly Tree" is also known as "Sans Day Carol" or "St. Day Carol," after the Cornish town of St. Day where it originated. It is a variant of the "The Holly and the Ivy" (Roud 514) according to the Roud Folk Song index.

Lyrics

Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk

Chorus

Mary bore Jesus our Saviour for to be,

And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!

And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!

Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,

And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross:

Chorus

Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all:

Chorus

Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red,
Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead:

Chorus

Tag:
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!