the holly and the ivy when both are full grown of all the trees in the wood the holly bears the crown oh the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the playing of the merry organ sweet singing of the choir the holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower and mary bore sweet jesus christ to be our sweet saviour oh the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the playing of the merry organ sweet singing of the choir the holly bears a berry as red as any blood and mary bore sweet jesus christ to do poor sinners good oh the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the playing of the merry organ sweet singing in the choir the holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn and mary bore sweet jesus christ on christmas day this morn  oh the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the playing of the merry organ sweet singing in the choir last christmas i drove home just my sister and me two hundred miles from london to a small town by the sea the subtle trails of snowfall swept round our rental van and we drifted into morning as christmas day began and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and the rising of the sun and the running of the deer 