Ten lords a-leaping

Posted on by WritingfromtheheartwithBrian

One year in elementary school, my class visited a local nursing home and sang Christmas carols for the residents. I wasn’t much of a singer — okay, let me be honest, I’m still not much of a singer — but I loved everything about the season and had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the best about remembering the correct words to the songs. In my haste, I’d sometimes come up with my own version.

While that wasn’t a problem when we sang “Frosty the Snowman” or “Up On The Housetop,” since I’d get drowned out by the rest of my classmates, it became a bigger problem when the focus shifted directly on me. When we went to sing the original version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” we each had a solo singing one of the days. It came to my turn to sing my section, and instead of “Ten lords a-leaping,” I changed the words to “Ten lords a-lounging.”

I’m not sure what happened. I guess the lords were exhausted from leaping around all day and were the prickly sort and decided to take a break. Lounging instead of leaping — now it wasn’t that bad, but it could’ve been much worse. The alternative that still sticks out in my head: “Ten lizards a-leaping.” (I had no clue at the time that the song thanks to its length and international appeal is one of the most altered and parodied Christmas songs in the world. I guess I was just ahead of my time.)

The gifts add up

Many years have passed, but I got to thinking about that memory this week when I read about PNC Bank’s Christmas Price Index and how the total cost of all the lavish gifts mentioned in the “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol have reached an all-time high of $46,729. When you factor in every single time the gifts are repeated in the carol, the total cost comes out to $210,972. 

It’s worth mentioning that despite the record-high price, the 2023 Christmas Price Index only increased by 2.7% from last year, which is lower than 2022’s 10.5% jump and aligns with how inflation has slowed over the past two years.

I know there are a number of factors that can be attributed to lessening inflation, but I have some serious questions on the analysts’ math. For example, five gold rings for $1,245? Can someone share with me the name of the jewelry store the analysts visited to get that kind of deal. I wouldn’t mind shopping that same store for a new ring for my wife.

Some shady math

I’m also wondering about the figures related to the milking staff. “Eight maids-a-milking” for a mere $58. Um, my math could be off, but that doesn’t sound like minimum wage? Are they shipping that work overseas? Are they paying the workers “under the table?” That’s some cheap labor costs.

There might be some pay inequity too. Nine ladies dancing are paid $8,300, while ten lords a-leaping are paid $14,539. Yes, there’s an additional lord leaping about, but it’s a difference of more than $6,200. I’m not trying to create a controversy or anything, but something seems off. I could see The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission having some serious questions over that math and the fairness in how salaries are paid out.

Lightbulb moments

We’re writing this month On the Heart of the Matter on “light.” I think we all have lightbulb learning moments throughout our life. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” became a lightbulb moment for me. I remember the fun I had singing the song and I’m reminded that we get joy from many different things.

I learned how small acts like singing for a group of elderly can make all the difference in the world. My voice wasn’t the best or the loudest or even the best sounding. We were a far cry from the Vienna Boys Choir or even a run-of-the-mill choir, but we tried hard. I didn’t even keep to the right words, but I had fun doing it and seemed to bring some momentary joy to a few people who needed it the most.

What fills you with light? Do you have an example of something that you might not perform the best, but makes you happy and brings joy to others? I’d love to hear about it.

. . . . . 

Please join in on the discussion on the HoTM site. In addition, please visit my personal blog at www.writingfromtheheartwithbrian.com to read my companion piece. In addition, you can follow me on Instagram at @writingfromtheheartwithbrian.

All the best, Brian.

Images by Pexels.

42 thoughts on “Ten lords a-leaping”

    1. Like I wrote, I’m not trying to create trouble, but seems a little off to me. Plus, dancing seems a little harder to me. You’re up, you’re down, you’re swaying, and then you’re running to the other end of the floor. It’s a hard job. The lords a-leaping. It’s just jumping. Yea, you need some strong quads, but there’s no artistry, just up, down, up, down. Ha, ha.

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  4. Oh, this is such a fun post! I love the breakdown of the 12 days of Christmas. If the lords are lounging, they definitely should take a pay cut. And the LIGHT you shine on doing things for others – and that it feels good to us too. Love it, Brian!

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  6. I also frequently screw up word, so this is so relatable. I also have fond memories of singing for those in a retirement home when I was young, mostly mouthing because I wasn’t confident I knew the words! There is something truly lovely about showing up and offering of ourselves, even when it’s not perfect.

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  9. I can see the nursing residents now – half not hearing your lyrical improv and the rest thinking it was so cute. I pretty much always sing in the car with the radio, picking out harmonies when the song permits. That fills me with light.

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  10. Your version is more accurate to what the lords were probably doing! My school did a parody of the 12 Days of Christmas for our Winter Assembly; I was always a French hen (in a hen costume) but the funny one was the “whoever dancing” because our version was “Daves dancing.” We had SO many Daves on our staff. And they really enjoyed hamming it up. Those memories bring me a lot of joy!

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    1. Ha, ha, that’s too funny EA. One drawback to me doing it, I have “writer math” skills. You know how tricky they can be. One of the funniest things I’ve ever been a part of is going out to lunch with a couple of old writer/reporter friends of mine and watching us try to divvy up the bill and figure out the tip. Really kind of sad in a funny way. But, yes this index really does make me wonder. I saw the gold price and told my wife at those prices shd could get whatever she wanted. Ha ha!

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  16. One of the expectations for teachers at our school was to have each class do some type of holiday performance. Tricky stuff since not everyone celebrates Christmas in the Christianity sense. Hence, a lot of songs like Rudolph were performed. One year my class and I rewrote the Twelve Days of Christmas and each item mentioned was something that happened at school. Ten Lords-a-Lounging made me think of that. Thanks for the memory, Brian.

    Happy holidays to you and your family. First time in 31 years that we won’t spend Christmas with our so—understandable now that he’s 2,000 miles away and married.

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    1. I’m glad my post made you think of a happy school story. Yes, I bet a lot of Frosty and Rudolph songs. Ha ha. As far as your son …. Wow, my thoughts are with you, that’s a big change. Give yourself room to have all the feels, but maybe it will be the start of new traditions too. Kind of exciting too. Merry Christmas to you Pete.

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  18. Oh man, I had quite the chuckle at this piece – both your lyrical freestyle and also the fact someone took the effort to cost out the 12 Days of Christmas. It’s those damn 5 golden rings!

    If it’s any comfort, most people in seniors homes can’t hear well anyway! 😆

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