Full festive marks to the American Shakespeare Centre for their inspirational “Twelve Days of Christmas” with a Shakespeare twist!
They ran a poll over a few weeks to get lyrics ideas for each day from their Facebook fans, then picked the best to put to a rousing performance. Click play and check it out:
If you’re struggling to understand any of the lyrics here they are for you to read:
A love is deep the more I give to thee (from Romeo and Juliet, act 2, scene 2 – “My love as deep; the more I give to thee”)
Three Dauphines
Four Galling words (we think!)
Five Scheming Queens
Six Henries reigning
Seven Causes quarreling (we think!)
Eight suiters wooing
Nine fairies dancing
Ten beats a meter (you know, iambic pentameter!)
Eleventouring actors
Twelve clowns amusing
The funny thing is, the lyrics to this Shakespeare-themed 12 days of Christmas song have changed since the American Shakespeare Centre first recorded a video. Their first take was:
A speech that goes “to be or not to be”
Two sets of twins (From The Comedy of Errors, of course!)
Three Scottish hags (Macbeth’s three witches)
Four Capulets
Six dudes a-dying
Nine worthies masquing (know what a masque play is?)
Ten Beats of Meter (it’s that iambic pentameter again!)
Eleven tragic outings
Twelve chimes at midnight
Shakespeare’s 12 days of Christmas
What do you think? Which ones are your favourites? Let us know in the comments section below!
These lyrics are not what they are saying. Here’s what they are saying:
12 Clowns Amusing
11 Touring Actors
10 Beats a Meter (you know, Iambic Pentameter)
9 Fairies Dancing
8 Suitors Wooing
7 Causes Quarreling (I think, not sure)
6 Henries Reigning
5 Scheming Queens
4 something swords
3 Dauphines
2 Noble Kinsmen
a love is deep the more I give to thee (R&J II.2) “My love as deep; the more I give to thee,”
You’re right it’s hard to understand, but your translation is not what they are saying. They are making very smart and intelligent Shakespeare puns. I hope this helps clear it up.
P.s. your list is just as fun and I like it, but it doesn’t match the video.
Great lyrics and wonderful to see former ASC actors again. Festive and fun!