Early versions of the song have shown a considerable variation in the lyric for day 4. The 1780 version has “four colly birds” — colly being a regional English expression for black like coal.
In the 19th century, “canary birds”, “colour’d birds”, “curley birds” and “corley birds” are found in its place. Frederic Austin’s 1909 version also altered the fourth day’s gift to four “calling” birds, and this variant has become the most popular, although “colly” is still found.
The only aspect the Furkids retained from the original fourth day lyrics is the colour black. These furbabies have no feathers but they do have soft fur and cute little ears. Oh, and the babies really are called imps!
Before you see them, start out at the jukebox by pressing play. Then scroll down to the illustrated lyrics and sing along!
If you missed the first three days, you can catch up with them here:
First Day of Catmas
Second Day of Catmas
Third Day of Catmas
You can follow Michelle on Blue Sky: @michelleelle.bsky.social
This series has been warm and lovely so far. 🥰
We aim for quality and consistency! 😉😊
Aww! I love those faces! I’m a bit of a devil imp myself so I feel a kinship! 😈
I’m working to improve their global reputation!
That little koala sure gets around on that tree!
Congratulations! You’re the first to notice that the koala moves around the tree! It’s usually the fourth day when someone first comments on it.
Did you ever notice that every single git in the human version is a living creature or creatures, except the “five gold rings”? And that all the way through Day 7 those living creatures are birds? There’s a theory that “five golden rings” originally referred to ringdoves. It makes sense to me. It’s one of those things no one will ever be able to prove one way or the other because the carol is far older than universal literacy (or what passes for it today.)