I heard this for the first time on the radio yesterday. It got to 0:14 and I was like, 'wait, they messed up.' I proceeded to feel the same confusion throughout the rest of the song. Can't wait to play it around my family and see their reactions. 🤭
My parents bought their CD when I was born, I honestly thought it was the best ( and only) way to sing these songs. it's been nearly 15 years and I still LOVE their versions of the songs.
Straight No Chaser is one of the most famous acapella bands out there though? They may not be as recent as PTX, Voiceplay, The Filharmonic and Home Free but they're definitely one of the best out there.
Lyrics On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree On the fourth day of Christ- On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five golden rings Four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree On the ninth day of Christmas, on the eighth day of Christmas My true love gave to me, my true love gave to me Nine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying Six geese a laying, five- Better not shout, you better not cry, you better not - in a pear tree On the ninth (No!) On the eighth (No!) On the seventh day of Christmas deck the halls My true love gave to me with boughs of holly Seven swans a swimming (here we come a wassailing) Six geese a laying (among the leaves so-) Five golden rings (faaa-laaa-la-la-la) Four calling birds Three french hens Two turtle doves (here we come a wassailing) The boar's head in hand bear I among the leaves so green Bedeck'd with bays And partridge in a pear tree On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me Eleven pipers piping (ding) Ten lords a leaping (dong) Nine ladies dancing (ding) Eight maids a milking (dong) Seven swans a swimming (ding) Six geese a laying (dong) Five golden rings Four calling birds Three french hens Two turtle doves And-Rudolph the red nosed reindeer On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me- "I have a little dradle, I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready My dradle I shall play. Oh, dra-" "Hey, hey, hey - twelve days of Christmas, eight days of Hanukah" "It's Christmas medley" On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me- Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de) Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de) On the twelfth day my true love gave to me Twelve drummers drumming like olympus upon the serengeti Eleven pipers piping, ten lords a leaping Nine ladies dancing they were dancing for meeee Eight maids a milking they were milking just for me I had Christmas down in Africa I had Christmas down in Africa I had Christmas down in Africa (Five golden rings) I had Christmas down in Africa (Five golden rings) I had Christmas down in Africa (Five golden rings) Couldnt take the halls into the things we never had Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de) Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de) Partridge in a big pear tree (do de do de do de do de do de) Partridge in a big pear tree
Thanks. Our kindergarteners are going to sing this version at the Christmas concert this year. (Also, kudos for the Herculean task of actually transcribing the alleged lyrics of this magnificent mess.)
For college I had to record a Christmas music show, and I accidentally added this song instead of the original... The shock I got listening to it for the first time while recording 😂
This is the kind of thing you show your grandma as she becomes confused and explains each time they go off script that that's not how the song's supposed to go
My mother loves this album and plays it every year! My absolute favorites from this song have always been "8 maids a-milking, they were milking just for me!" (Gets me to laugh every time), the 11 days "Carol of the Bells", and "you better not... in a pear tree". Stunning song
this song takes me right back to when I was 9 jamming to all the straight no chaser christmas songs with my family T^T everything is so different now, man. I'm so thankful for those times though.
I have been looking for this song for years! I heard it for the first time in the radio years ago and I couldn’t find it and I kept thinking about and I finally found it again!!!!
I went to a 12 Days of Christmas thing at the Dallas Arboretum and was seaching Amazon for different versions of the song "!2 Days of Christmas" and found the "Christmas Cheer" album by Straight No Chaser. Now I want to listen to the other albums. Excecellent Harmonizing!!
I saw the video of this song, and could not help laughing. It was Hillarious. So fun to hear and watch the video. I wonder how much they screwed it up before getting it right. This is too fun. I bet they had fun making any of their music, but especially this song.
Listen carefully: it says "you fucking better watch out, you better not cry!" Recent versions don't have this. I asked David "Rome" about this year's ago and he said "I don't know, probably." I love it!
the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me A partridge in a pear tree On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree On the 4th day of Chris On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me 5 golden rings! 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me (On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me) 9 ladies dancing, 8 ladies dancing (8 maids a-milking, 7 maids a-milking) 7 ladies dancing, 6 ladies dancing (6 maids a-milking) 5! Better not shout, you better not cry You better not, in a pear tree On the 9th No! On the 8th No! On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me (Deck the halls with boughs of holly) 7 swans a-swimming, 6 geese a-laying (Here we come a-wassailing, among the leaves so) 5 golden rings! (Fa la la la) 4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves (Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green) The boar's head in hand bear I bedeck'd with bays And partridge in a pear tree On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping (Ding, dong) 9 ladies dancing, 8 maids a-milking (Ding, dong) 7 swans a swimming, 6 geese a laying (Ding, dong) 5 golden rings, 4 calling birds 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves And Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay And when it's dry and ready, a dreidel I shall play Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel Sorry... On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me On the 12th day my true love gave to me 12 drummers drumming like Olympus upon the Serengeti 11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping! 9 ladies dancing they were dancing for me 8 maids a-milking, they were milking just for me I had Christmas down in Africa I had Christmas down in Africa I had Christmas down in Africa (5 golden rings!) I had Christmas down in Africa (5 golden rings!) I had Christmas down in Africa (5 golden rings!) Gonna deck the halls and do the things we never had Partridge in a big pear tree Partridge in a big pear tree
This is exactly what it would be like if ya could see inside my head around Xmas time when I try to remember the words to this song- really any song but alas I hv really bad add and I just forgot what else I was gonna say legit.. but ❤️it awesome
This was originally written by my music teacher back in the 1970's. It made the rounds of schools and by the time Straight No Chaser got a hold of it the last few pages were missing. The Toto Africa was never a part of the original.
That is not quite accurate; it was originally arranged by Richard Gregory in the 1950s, formalized in the 1960s, and when it reached us in 1998, no pages were missing. We simply changed the ending by swapping in Africa, to fit our audience at the time. You can read more about the origins of the arrangement here: pitchperfect-thebook.blogspot.com/2008/10/who-is-dick-gregory.html?m=1
you guys should try singing "deck the halls with jingle bells" i am singing it in my school quire its realy hard its like deck the halls and jingle bells mixed together
ahhh no! It was soooo good until the very end. Instead of saying "partridge in a big pear tree" a second time, you should have said "that's what my true love gave to me."
I heard this for the first time on the radio yesterday. It got to 0:14 and I was like, 'wait, they messed up.' I proceeded to feel the same confusion throughout the rest of the song. Can't wait to play it around my family and see their reactions. 🤭
My parents bought their CD when I was born, I honestly thought it was the best ( and only) way to sing these songs. it's been nearly 15 years and I still LOVE their versions of the songs.
or around when I was born, I've just been listening to it for as long as I can remember
Which holiday song should we sing?
YES.
Bruh I was on Spotify yesterday and this played, how did I just find this master piece
I JUST heard this song on the radio yesterday. I'm so late
The "five golden rings" bit gets me every time.
Why aren't you guys more famous?! Like, AT LEAST somewhere between Pomplamoose and Pentatonix!
Spread the word! :-)
Far superior.
Who are those?
Straight No Chaser is one of the most famous acapella bands out there though? They may not be as recent as PTX, Voiceplay, The Filharmonic and Home Free but they're definitely one of the best out there.
Uhm it’s because your comment was from 2023 and hers from like 9 years ago..?
This song represents what it feels like to have ADHD on the holidays.
YYYYYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
So true
A.D.D. Aproved👍
YESS XD
😁
Lyrics
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
On the fourth day of Christ-
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five golden rings
Four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas, on the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me, my true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
Six geese a laying, five-
Better not shout, you better not cry, you better not - in a pear tree
On the ninth (No!)
On the eighth (No!)
On the seventh day of Christmas deck the halls
My true love gave to me with boughs of holly
Seven swans a swimming (here we come a wassailing)
Six geese a laying (among the leaves so-)
Five golden rings (faaa-laaa-la-la-la)
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves (here we come a wassailing)
The boar's head in hand bear I among the leaves so green
Bedeck'd with bays
And partridge in a pear tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping (ding)
Ten lords a leaping (dong)
Nine ladies dancing (ding)
Eight maids a milking (dong)
Seven swans a swimming (ding)
Six geese a laying (dong)
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And-Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me-
"I have a little dradle, I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready
My dradle I shall play. Oh, dra-"
"Hey, hey, hey - twelve days of Christmas, eight days of Hanukah"
"It's Christmas medley"
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me-
Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de)
Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de)
On the twelfth day my true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming like olympus upon the serengeti
Eleven pipers piping, ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing they were dancing for meeee
Eight maids a milking they were milking just for me
I had Christmas down in Africa
I had Christmas down in Africa
I had Christmas down in Africa (Five golden rings)
I had Christmas down in Africa (Five golden rings)
I had Christmas down in Africa (Five golden rings)
Couldnt take the halls into the things we never had
Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de)
Doo doo do do doot dooooooo (do de do de do de do de do de)
Partridge in a big pear tree (do de do de do de do de do de)
Partridge in a big pear tree
Thank you so much for putting the lyrics in I love this version 😁👍 it's so funny 😂
Thanks. Our kindergarteners are going to sing this version at the Christmas concert this year. (Also, kudos for the Herculean task of actually transcribing the alleged lyrics of this magnificent mess.)
Great job, now incorporate the tenor, bari, and bass parts into it :)
The dreidel guy makes me laugh every time I listen to this song!
Same
same
Fun fact: The guy that sang “Dreidel” is Jewish.
Same here
@@kaitlynhowellit's not fair if you're Jewish
I love the transition into Toto's "Africa" from the album, "Toto IV". I have loved that song since forever. Great job, Straight No Chaser!
I can listen to this a thousand times and laugh every time and still not get annoyed. 😂😂😂
I agree
For college I had to record a Christmas music show, and I accidentally added this song instead of the original... The shock I got listening to it for the first time while recording 😂
I had Christmas down in Africaaaaaaaaaa.
Lol!!!
Nicole MacDowell I am having Christmas in Africa 😂
Reading comments as listening and saw this comment as the line came up XD
@@Smasherverse Me too!! :D
This is the kind of thing you show your grandma as she becomes confused and explains each time they go off script that that's not how the song's supposed to go
Or better yet, they laugh and say "I like this version better"
They come together for 5 GOLDEN RINGS!!!!
I love how you guys use carol of the bells for the 11th day
It is cool.
That's the best part
Agreed
1:00
This is my favorite rendition of this song! It's my go-to every year!
There is something transcendent about that very last “five golden rings” that I will never be able to put into words. I feel so alive
My mother loves this album and plays it every year! My absolute favorites from this song have always been "8 maids a-milking, they were milking just for me!" (Gets me to laugh every time), the 11 days "Carol of the Bells", and "you better not... in a pear tree". Stunning song
Oh you better no shout you better not cry you better not ... in a pear tree! BEST CHRISTMAS MEDLEY EVEEEEEEER! Also I had Christmas down in Africa🍹
this song takes me right back to when I was 9 jamming to all the straight no chaser christmas songs with my family T^T everything is so different now, man. I'm so thankful for those times though.
SAME
like why did things have to change? I liked it
I was so happy then
If youre watching this in 2020 youre a real one
i am watching this in 2020
I am watching this in March 2021. Am I a real one two?
I LOVE THIS SONG my dad heard it on the radio a couple of years ago and we've all been obsessed with it since :)
just found this via joehills and i am losing it, this is pure brilliance and wonderfully done
I sang this in choir about a year ago and it really brings back memories 😢
This is the only Christmas music I listen to. Lol
X'D Brilliant, they had me at all the dancing ladies, but I completely lost it at Africa.
Did this song with four others for my school's acapella group, and it was a blast!
You guys are always so entertaining. Always keeping us laughing! Love it. Thanks!!
I remember hearing this on the radio a few years ago, but I could never knew the name of the band!
PFFFFFFFFFFFT, I CANT STOP LAUGHING. THAT 8 DAYS ON HANNEKAH GOT ME! xD
Btw, you guys are GOOD.
Fr me singing with ADHD I can't stop laughing 😂 😂😂😂😂😂😂
purely ingenious
Now when people sing it straight, it doesn't sound right. It's all your fault. :)
ikr?
I have a fix!
Sing it gay! 🌈
@@transwithnoplans You have won one (1) Internet today for that comment. :)
@@KaaSerpent ooh! I’ve always wanted an internet! 🥰 thank!
I just found my new favorite singing group, two days before Christmas
me and the boys in the high school choir are going to be singing this i can't wait
if it ends up on youtube post the link lol
@@tiberiuswolf8259 turns out we might not but if we do then I will
@@False_125 You didn’t 😔
I LOVE this! What an epic ending!
Straight No Chaser does a capella better than anyone else. Love them. Did you know they started at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indian?
Pentatonix
I have been looking for this song for years! I heard it for the first time in the radio years ago and I couldn’t find it and I kept thinking about and I finally found it again!!!!
This is the best song to celebrate the holidays with
I would love for a full version of "Christmas in Africa" ❤
I went to a 12 Days of Christmas thing at the Dallas Arboretum and was seaching Amazon for different versions of the song "!2 Days of Christmas" and found the "Christmas Cheer" album by Straight No Chaser. Now I want to listen to the other albums. Excecellent Harmonizing!!
This song will never get old😂
I love these guys!
BEST 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!
Me who was in Madrigal Choir/Chamber Singers: THE BOARD HEAD-
Also
HARK HALLOW BELLS SWEET-
I saw the video of this song, and could not help laughing. It was Hillarious. So fun to hear and watch the video. I wonder how much they screwed it up before getting it right. This is too fun. I bet they had fun making any of their music, but especially this song.
😂 best version of the song i've heard.
greysfan true its the best song
I love this version. Such a fun song to sing along too. You guys have beautiful voices. Look forward to hearing you more often.
0:35 gets me every time! 🤣
I had Christmas down in Africaaaa!
love it
1:31 was my favorite part!
Listen carefully: it says "you fucking better watch out, you better not cry!" Recent versions don't have this. I asked David "Rome" about this year's ago and he said "I don't know, probably." I love it!
Santa 🎅 gonna love me for this
FIVE GOLDEN RIIIIIIIINGS
we’re performing this song for a concert today!
This song gets me every time 😂
I had Christmas down in Africa! oh, the memories :'-)
YES NEW ALBUM!!!!
Alright. NOW I am in the Christmas Spirit!
April and Davey introduced me to you all today!! Awesome!
Merry Christmas!
This song represents adhd and anxiety during the holidays
This and the PTX version are very enjoyable
the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me
2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree
On the 4th day of Chris
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me
5 golden rings!
4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me
(On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me)
9 ladies dancing, 8 ladies dancing
(8 maids a-milking, 7 maids a-milking)
7 ladies dancing, 6 ladies dancing
(6 maids a-milking)
5!
Better not shout, you better not cry
You better not, in a pear tree
On the 9th
No!
On the 8th
No!
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me
(Deck the halls with boughs of holly)
7 swans a-swimming, 6 geese a-laying
(Here we come a-wassailing, among the leaves so)
5 golden rings!
(Fa la la la)
4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves
(Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green)
The boar's head in hand bear I bedeck'd with bays
And partridge in a pear tree
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me
11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping
(Ding, dong)
9 ladies dancing, 8 maids a-milking
(Ding, dong)
7 swans a swimming, 6 geese a laying
(Ding, dong)
5 golden rings, 4 calling birds
3 french hens, 2 turtle doves
And Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me
I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready, a dreidel I shall play
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
Sorry...
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me
On the 12th day my true love gave to me
12 drummers drumming like Olympus upon the Serengeti
11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping!
9 ladies dancing they were dancing for me
8 maids a-milking, they were milking just for me
I had Christmas down in Africa
I had Christmas down in Africa
I had Christmas down in Africa
(5 golden rings!)
I had Christmas down in Africa
(5 golden rings!)
I had Christmas down in Africa
(5 golden rings!)
Gonna deck the halls and do the things we never had
Partridge in a big pear tree
Partridge in a big pear tree
Good song
Somehow I missed the song Africa until recently, and now that part at 1:30 makes sense.
BEST SONG EVERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ever*
Very hilarious song great
This is exactly what it would be like if ya could see inside my head around Xmas time when I try to remember the words to this song- really any song but alas I hv really bad add and I just forgot what else I was gonna say legit.. but ❤️it awesome
all I can think about this is how it came into being.. Was it just that they were listening to various songs at the time??
Straight no chaser is cool!
Your so right
This was originally written by my music teacher back in the 1970's. It made the rounds of schools and by the time Straight No Chaser got a hold of it the last few pages were missing. The Toto Africa was never a part of the original.
That is not quite accurate; it was originally arranged by Richard Gregory in the 1950s, formalized in the 1960s, and when it reached us in 1998, no pages were missing. We simply changed the ending by swapping in Africa, to fit our audience at the time. You can read more about the origins of the arrangement here: pitchperfect-thebook.blogspot.com/2008/10/who-is-dick-gregory.html?m=1
1:31 start of the best part
This is good
The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma
My mind:
I love this song I this same song 20 times and it's only halloween
Heather Elkins Christmas can-can got to you?
@@KamekFox lol
A mental breakdown in a can. I will die on this hill
Bah bah bah do. I am Christmas down in Africa!!
Ok, this kicked Mariah down a notch in my list
This song hits different in 2020
Anyone listining this in 2018😊
CHRISTIAN OLIVER GEVERO aw yee Christmas before Halloween
@@Emma-dd8ft hahaha yeah
2020... the year the world went to crap.
what song is this? 1:35
Sang this song for chorus :)
you guys should try singing "deck the halls with jingle bells" i am singing it in my school quire its realy hard its like deck the halls and jingle bells mixed together
I have
молодцы
This was playing in my doctor’s office. I was like WTF!?
My coworker played this for us at work the other day and I thought I was having a stroke
Ahh, NOW it's Christmas
❤️❤️❤️
Guuurl
I don't know why but the first 5 seconds is funny as fuck
12 days of Chaos
1:31 this is where it gets good
Very hilarious
its Christmas time down in Africa.
ahhh no! It was soooo good until the very end. Instead of saying "partridge in a big pear tree" a second time, you should have said "that's what my true love gave to me."
9 lAdiEs dAncInG jUsT FooooOOOOR mEEEE AAaaaAAaaaaaAhhhhhh
Partridge in a big pear treeeeeeeeeeeeeee
At 0:24 I couldn’t catch up with them