O Tannenbaum

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"O Tannenbaum", or, in its English version, "O Christmas Tree", is a Christmas carol of German origin.

A Tannenbaum is a fir tree (German die Tanne) or Christmas tree (der Weihnachtsbaum). Its evergreen qualities have long inspired musicians to write several "Tannenbaum" songs in German.

The best known version was written in 1824 by a Leipzig organist and teacher 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) begins:

Ach Tannenbaum, ach Tannenbaum, du bist ein edler Zweig! Du grünest uns den Winter, die liebe Sommerzeit.

During the Third Reich "O Tannenbaum" was promoted by the Nazis as part of their program to remove the more Christian parts of the Holiday Season.[1]

Contents

[edit] German lyrics

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 Winterzeit
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!

A common variation replaces the word "treu" (trustworthy) with "grün" (green) in verse 1.

[edit] English lyrics (two versions)

O Christmas Tree
I II

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!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is thy prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!

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!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!

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!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
Forever true your colour
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
Forever true your colour
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
Forever true your colour

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
You fill my heart with music
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
You fill my heart with music
Reminding me on Christmas Day
To think of you and then be gay
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree
You fill my heart with music

[edit] Other uses

The tune has also been used (as a contrafactum) to carry other texts.

[edit] Cover versions

[edit] Media

[edit] References

  1. ^ ilhelm Beilstein, "Wie wir Weihnachten feiern," N.S.-Briefe, December 1939, pp. 327-328. The section is reprinted from Beilstein's Lichtfeier. Sinn. Geschichte, Brauch und Feier der deutschen Weihnacht (Munich: Deutscher Volksverlag, 1939).
  2. ^ "New Citizen Civic Handbook, page 44" (PDF). sos.state.ia.us. 2006. http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/NewCitizens/EntireEnglish.pdf. Retrieved on December 26 2006. 
  3. ^ "Rev. C. V. Waugh". Alachua County Library District Heritage Collection. http://heritage.acld.lib.fl.us/1351-1400/1374.html. Retrieved on 2008-02-12. 
  4. ^ "Holy Cross Alma Mater". College of the Holy Cross. http://goholycross.cstv.com/traditions/holy-songs.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-20. 
  5. ^ "Dartmouth v. Holy Cross band recap". Dartmouth College. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dcmb/shows/2004/holycross.htm. Retrieved on 2008-12-20. 

[edit] External links

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