by Allan Sherman

“The Twelve Gifts of Christmas” is a song parody written and performed by Allan Sherman based on the classic Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.

The song reached #5 on the Billboard Christmas Chart in 1963. The song was arranged by Lou Busch. Sherman lists off the gifts in successive verses, and after some of them he adds more details about the first gift.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a Japanese transistor radio.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me green polka-dot pajamas,
(1) . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

(It’s a Nakashuma.)

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a calendar book with the name of my insurance man,
(2) . . . green polka-dot pajamas,

(1) . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

(It’s the Mark IV model.  That’s the one that’s discontinued.)

On the fourth day Of Christmas, my true love gave to me a simulated alligator wallet,
(3) . . . a calendar book with the name of my insurance man,
(2)
. . . green polka-dot pajamas,
(1)
. . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

(And it comes in a leatherette case with holes in it, so you can listen right through the case.)

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a statue of a lady, with a clock where her stomach ought to be,
(4) . . . a simulated alligator wallet,
(3) . . . a calendar book with the name of my insurance man,
(2) . . . green polka-dot pajamas,

(1) . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

(And it has a wire with thing on one end that you can stick right in your ear, and a thing on the other end that you can’t stick anywhere, because it’s bent)

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a hammered aluminum nutcracker,
(5,4,3,2) . . . and all that other stuff,

(1) . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a pink satin pillow that says San Diego, with fringe all around it,
(6,5,4,3,2) . . . and all that other stuff,
(1)
. . . and a Japanese radio.

On the eight day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An indoor plastic birdbath,  And all that other stuff,
(1) . . . and a Japanese radio.

An the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a pair of teakwood shower clogs,
(1) . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a chromium combination manicure scissors and cigarette lighter,
(1) pause . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me an automatic vegetable slicer that works when to see it on television, but not when you get it home,
(1) pause . . . and a Japanese transistor radio.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, although it may seem strange,

On the twelfth day of Christmas, I’m going to exchange:

  • (1) An automaticvegetableslicerthatworks when you see it on television, but not when you get it home,
  • (1) A chromiumcombinationmanicure scissors and cigarette lighter,
  • (1) A pairofteakwoodshowerclogs,
  • (1) Anindoorplasticbirdbath,
  • (1) A pink satin pillow that says San Diego, with fringe all around it,
  • (1) A hammered aluminum nut cracker,
  • (1) A statue of lady, with a clock where her stomach ought to be,
  • (1) A simulated alligator wallet,
  • (1) A calendar book with the name of my insurance man.
  • (1) Green polka-dot pajamas,
  • (1) And a Japanese transistor radio.

Merry Christmas Everybody!