'calling birds' or 'colly birds'?

[Valgal]

I've always sung

4 calling birds
3 french hens
2 turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree

My dd printed out the lyrics for a project and HER's says 'four colly birds.'



What's a colly bird?

[Jenn Barrette]

I have always said "4 calling birds", but I googled it and it seems it is colly birds. Who knew?

http://hubpages.com/hub/On_the_Fourth_Day_of_Christmas

[*Celeste*]

who knew? apparently they are european blackbirds.

[ColleenSwerb]

Say whaaaaa? My mind is blown.

[Valgal]

well... there goes my whole life down the drain. No more calling birds.

[meems]

huh. wow. I always thought it was calling birds too.

Just checked a book of Christmas carols I have and it says "calling birds."

[Jennifer]

Nooooooo!!! I refuse. They're still "calling birds" to me.

[*Celeste*]

you are cracking me up!

[Megan Turnidge]

What the heck are you talking about? They're calling birds.

[Valgal]

Originally Posted by meems

Just checked a book of Christmas carols I have and it says "calling birds."

There is hope!!!!!!

[misfitinmn]

Originally Posted by Valgal

well... there goes my whole life down the drain. No more calling birds.

that's how i feel about it, too!

[maryinaz]

In the US, it's "calling" birds.




That's my decision and I'm sticking with it.

[Lyd]

This is why we have wikipedia:

"There are many variations of this song in which the last four objects are arranged in a different order (for example — twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies (or dames a-) dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming).[9] At least one version has "ten fiddlers fiddling," and another has "nine ladies waiting." Still another version alters the fourth gift to "four mockingbirds."
A version considered by many to be the authoritative, traditional version of the chant in England appears in The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes,[2] as follows:
The twelfth day of Christmas, | My true love sent to me | Twelve lords a-leaping, | Eleven ladies dancing, | Ten pipers piping, | Nine drummers drumming, | Eight maids a-milking, | Seven swans a-swimming, | Six geese a-laying, | Five gold rings, | Four calling birds, | Three French hens, | Two turtle doves, and | A partridge in a pear tree."

"Some misinterpretations have crept into the English-language version over the years. The fourth day's gift is often stated as four "calling" birds but originally was four "colly" birds, using another word for a blackbird."

Looks to me like colly birds was the original, but calling birds is just as acceptable these days. We can all be happy!

[Leila]

My Grammy used to give us a little smack to remind us it was 'colly' not 'calling' when we'd sing at the church Christmas Carol mass. I tend to sing 'calling' when I'm with friends since most don't know that calling is technically wrong.

[Leah]

I'm just gonna close my eyes and pretend that I never saw this.

[cheltzey]

I thought this was a joke! I lived in England, and I never heard it sung colly birds!

[MommaTrish]

I always heard colly....

[Angie4b1g]

Now that you mention it, wtf IS a calling bird. lol

[SirScrapalot]

I think a calling bird is the one who let the angry birds know about the pigs taking the eggs.

[scrap2day]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

Say whaaaaa? My mind is blown.

Ditto this. While some may have shown actual historical references to supposed "colly" birds I just listened to the version by John Denver and the Muppets. Clearly, 4 calling birds. Whew.

Plus, seriously, who wants their true love to give them 4 black birds? I'd much rather have 4 calling birds which I always pictured to be sweetly singing birds.

[AmberK]

Preach it sista!

Originally Posted by Jennifer

Nooooooo!!! I refuse. They're still "calling birds" to me.

This cracks me up!

Originally Posted by SirScrapalot

I think a calling bird is the one who let the angry birds know about the pigs taking the eggs.

[Valgal]

Originally Posted by scrap2day

Plus, seriously, who wants their true love to give them 4 black birds? I'd much rather have 4 calling birds which I always pictured to be sweetly singing birds.

YES, YES and (again I say) YES!

Besides, wasn't it "4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie"? I figure they're only good for squawking and a cheap dinner.

[Jengerbread88]

Originally Posted by Valgal

YES, YES and (again I say) YES!

Besides, wasn't it "4 and 20 blackbirds baked in a pie"? I figure they're only good for squawking and a cheap dinner.

HAHAHAHAHAHHAA