A German Christmas Carol in German and English
Also see the video versions below, and the traditional English version of this carol.
Christmas at the Bonn City Hall. PHOTO: Andrea Goldmann
Also see a short history of the “O Tannenbaum” song below.
PRINT – Use the ‘Print’ button at the top of this page to print the carol lyrics below or to create a PDF for private use. Also see the special PDF link below.
“O Tannenbaum”“O Christmas Tree” |
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| Deutsch (German) | English |
|---|---|
| Musik: Volksweise Text: Ernst Anschütz, 1824 |
Traditional melody Literal English translation – HF |
| 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 loyal are your leaves/needles! You’re green not only in the summertime, No, also in winter when it snows. O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How loyal are your leaves/needles! |
| 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 You can please me very much! How often has not at Christmastime A tree like you given me such joy! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, You can please me very much! |
| 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 dress wants to teach me something: Your hope and durability Provide comfort and strength at any time. O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree That’s what your dress should teach me. |
| MORE > Traditional English lyrics for this carol BACK > German Christmas Carol Lyrics The German Way – www.german-way.com |
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| “O Tannenbaum” Printable PDF from The German Way PDF: “O Tannenbaum” German and English lyrics Click on this PDF link to view a printable PDF version of this carol in new tab! |
VIDEO 1: “O Tannenbaum” with on-screen lyrics
VIDEO 2: “O Tannenbaum” by Nat King Cole (in German)
About This Carol
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 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.” – The English version above is a literal prose translation, not the traditional English lyrics for the song. There are at least a dozen English versions of this carol.
Next | German Christmas Carol Lyrics
Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY
- German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
- The German Way Advent Calendar with Christmas facts (in season)
- Silent Night/Stille Nacht: The True Story – Our “Silent Night” page has the carol’s history and related links.
- Lyrics: “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) – Lyrics in German and English
- 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
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