O Tannenbaum
"What would Christmas be without a Christmas Tree? It's unimaginable for most of us. Did you know that the Christmas tree originated in Germany? So did this very familiar song about the beloved Christmas tree..." -Loralee
This song is O Tannenbaum. The English song O Christmas Tree originally comes from this German carol.
O Tannenbaum
O Fir Tree
Christmas Carol
Christmas Carol
(German)
(English)
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 Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat schon zur Winterszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Mut* und Kraft zu jeder Zeit!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren.
O fir tree, O fir tree,
How true are your leaves.
You're not only green in summertime,
But also in winter when it snows!
O fir tree, O fir tree,
How true are your leaves!
O fir tree, O fir tree,
Much pleasure can you bring me!
How oft before in wintertime
A tree like you has delighted me!
O fir tree, O fir tree,
Much pleasure can you bring me!
O fir tree, O fir tree,
Your mantle wants to teach me
That true hope and constancy,
Give strength and courage evermore!
O fir tree, O fir tree,
Your mantle wants to teach me!
Notes
*Or "trost" (comfort)
*****
Lisa from Australia sent this alternate translation of the first verse:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How faithful are your leaves
You're green not just in summer
No, also in winter when it snows.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How green are your leaves.
Comments
Lyrics: Ernst Anschütz (1824)
According to Wikipedia: "Anschütz based his text on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck, 'Ach Tannenbaum'."
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Ulrike Bernhard for contributing this song, to Maguy Cabrol for translating it into French and to Monique Palomares for creating the midi music. 1st English translation by Lisa Yannucci and Monique Palomares. Many thanks to Lisa Stephan from the German Australian Playschool in Canberra, Australia, for the picture and the alternate translation of the first verse. Thanks to Loralee Jo Kurzius for her commentary.
Vielen Dank!
