"O Tannenbaum" (German for "O Fir Tree"), known in English as "O Christmas Tree", is a German Christmas carol. Based on a traditional folk song unrelated to Christmas, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree.
Various future anthems and patriotic songs have based their melodies on "O Tannenbaum".
History[]
The modern lyrics were written in 1824 by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a firtree. The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas, or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir's evergreen quality as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness.
Anschütz based his text on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck, "Ach Tannenbaum". August Zarnack in 1819 wrote a tragic love song inspired by this folk song, taking the evergreen, "faithful" fir tree as contrasting with a faithless lover. The folk song first became associated with Christmas with Anschütz, who added two verses of his own to the first, traditional verse. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in the course of the 19th century, and the song came to be seen as a Christmas carol. Anschütz's version still had treu "true" as the adjective describing the fir's leaves (needles), harking back to the contrast to the faithless maiden of the folk song. This was changed to grün "green" at some point in the 20th century, after the song had come to be associated with Christmas.
Lyrics[]
Anschütz (1824)[]
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 nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
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!
English version[]
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,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
For ev'ry 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,
How lovely are thy branches!
Not only green when summer's here
But in the coldest time of year.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How sturdy God hath made thee!
Thou bidd'st us all place faithfully
Our trust in God, unchangingly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How sturdy God hath made thee!
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![1]
Other uses[]
The tune has also been used as a contrafactum to carry other texts on many occasions. Notable uses include:
- "The Red Flag", anthem of the British and Irish Labour Parties
- "Florida, My Florida", former U.S. state song
- "Maryland, My Maryland", former U.S. state song
- "Michigan, My Michigan", former U.S. state song
- "The Song of Iowa", official U.S. state song
- "Ode to Labrador", Canadian provincial song
- Dickinson College's alma mater, "Noble Dickinsonia", with lyrics by Horatio Collins King.
- The College of the Holy Cross's alma mater is sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". When traveling by bus, schoolchildren in Sweden sing "En busschaufför" ("A Bus Driver") or "Vår busschaufför" ("Our Bus Driver") to the melody.
- St. Bonaventure University's alma mater, "With Myrtle Wreath We'll Deck Thy Brow"
- "Scout Vespers", used by the Boy Scouts of America, is sung to the melody. Similarly, "Softly Falls" in which used by the Girl Scouts of the USA, is sung to the melody, as referenced in the song "On My Honor".