THE HOLLY
(Traditional)

Rita MacNeil (with David Blamires & Neil Donell)



Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk
And Mary bore Jesus whose wrapped up in silk
And Mary bore Jesus Christ, our Saviour for to be
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.

Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass
And Mary bore Jesus who died on the cross
And Mary bore Jesus Christ, our Saviour for to be
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.

Now the holly bears a berry as red as the blood
And Mary bore Jesus to do sinners good
And Mary bore Jesus Christ, our Saviour for to be
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.

Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal
And Mary bore Jesus who died for us all
And Mary bore Jesus Christ, our Saviour for to be
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly
And the first tree of the green wood, it was the holly.

NOTES:

Lyrics as released by Rita MacNeil 1988 'Now The Bells Ring'.

Rita MacNeil, a Canadian from Big Pond on Cape Breton Island, 
province of Nova Scotia, Canada composes music and lyrics together 
spontaneously before recording to tape and has over 200 
BMI registrations in 38 years.



(Transcribed by David Story - December 2013)