A German Christmas Carol in German and English
WITH TRADITIONAL ENGLISH LYRICS for “O CHRISTMAS TREE”
“O Tannenbaum” – “O Christmas Tree”
This is just one of at least a dozen English versions of this traditional German song, dating back about 500 years – long before it was considered a Christmas carol. (A Tannenbaum is a fir tree.) The English “O Christmas Tree” versions came about after the Christmas tree custom had spread across the Christian world. Also see the original German version of this carol with a literal translation.
See more about the “O Tannenbaum” song below.
| DEUTSCH Musik: Volksweise Text: Ernst Anschütz, 1824 |
ENGLISH Traditional melody Lyrics: Author unknown |
| O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! |
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How steadfast are your branches! Your boughs are green in summer’s clime And through the snows of wintertime. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How steadfast are your branches! |
| O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! |
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, What happiness befalls me when oft at joyous Christmas-time Your form inspires my song and rhyme. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, What happiness befalls me |
| O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren. |
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson – – – That constant faith and hope sublime Lend strength and comfort through all time. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson. |
| MORE > Original German lyrics for this carol BACK > German Christmas Carol Lyrics |
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Ein Weihnachtsbaum bei KaDeWe in Berlin.
A Christmas tree at the KaDeWe department store in Berlin. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo
A Tannenbaum is a fir tree (die Tanne) or Christmas tree (der Weihnachtsbaum). Although most Christmas trees today are Fichten (spruce) rather than Tannen, the qualities of the evergreen have inspired musicians to write several “Tannenbaum” songs in German over the years. The best known German version (above) was penned in 1824 by a Leipzig organist named Ernst Anschütz. The melody is an old folk tune. The first known “Tannenbaum” song lyrics date back to 1550. A similar 1615 song by Melchior Franck (1573-1639) goes: “Ach Tannebaum, ach Tannebaum, du bist ein edler Zweig! Du grünest uns den Winter, die lieben Sommerzeit.” (“Oh fir tree, o fir tree, you are a noble bough! You make the winter, the dear summertime green.”) – There are at least a dozen English versions of this carol, all by unknown authors, but all are based on the German original. The melody is also heard in US college sports songs.
Next | German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY
- German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
- The German Christmas Tree – A brief history of the Tannenbaum
- Silent Night (Stille Nacht) – Our “Silent Night” page has the true story and related links.
- Christmas from A to Z – German Christmas traditions and terms
- Christmas Markets in Germany and Europe – An overview of the top Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Photo Gallery: Christmas in Germany – Berlin – A visual tour of Christmas markets and other December sights in Berlin
- Advent and Christmas – The “arrival”
- Christmas in the USA and Germany– A comparison chart
- Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
ON THE WEB
- German Advent Calendar – An audio Advent calendar from adventskalender.net that starts on Dec. 1
- Der musikalische Adventskalender – A musical calendar from DW.com (in season)
- Adventskalender – Heinrich Zille art – old-fashioned Berlin
- Adventskalender – Wegerle – 2014, 2015, 2016
- Adventskalender von Uli Stein – A German cartoonist’s view
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