O Christmas tree (O Tannenbaum)

Carol, Germany.

“O Tannenbaum” was originally a traditional German folk song, which turned into a Christmas Carol in the early 20th century.

The lyrics refer to the Tannenbaum, a fir tree, that is admired as a symbol of faithfulness and constancy. When it was translated into English, the symbolism was shifted towards the tree as a Christmas holiday feature.

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Contents

Sing-Along Video

Lyrics (English)

1. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
They ‘re green when summer days are bright,
They ‘re green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!

2. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

3. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.

4. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.
Reminding me on Christmas Day
To think of you and then be gay.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.

Lyrics (German)

1. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
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!

2. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat schon zur Winterzeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,

Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

3. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
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!

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Song History

The lyrics of “O Tannenbaum” were written in 1824 by organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz, who lived in Leipzig, Germany.

Anschütz based his lyrics on a 16th-century folk song written by Melchior Franck, “Ach Tannenbaum”. The custom of decorating a tree at Christmas developed during the 19th century. When Anschütz added his own two original verses to the first, traditional verse, he laid the path to the song being considered a Christmas carol.