O Tannenbaum or O Christmas Tree is a German song about a fir tree and has nothing to do with the Christmas tree. Yes! It was a traditional folk song in ancient Germany. The English song was associated with Christmas sometime during the Victorian era. Talk about appropriation!
The original song refers to the evergreen fir tree and how it symbolizes faithfulness and consistency. O Tannenbaum inspired a few more songs, but the Christmas version gained more attention.
Continue reading to find one of the English translations along with the original German lyrics of the song.
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Written Lyrics
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Thy leaves are so unchanging
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Thy leaves are so unchanging
Not only green when summer's here
But also when it's cold and drear
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Thy leaves are so unchanging
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Such pleasure do you bring me
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Such pleasure do you bring me
For every year this Christmas tree
Brings to us such joy and glee
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Such pleasure do you bring me
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
You'll ever be unchanging
A symbol of goodwill and love
You'll ever be unchanging
Each shining light, each silver bell
No one alive spreads cheer so well
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
You'll ever be unchanging
Ernst Anschütz’s German Version (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!
Printable Lyrics
Download the printable PDF from this link to get a copy of the song’s lyrics (PDF Attached).
Photo Lyrics
Save the below image for the lyrics of the song.
Video Links
Watch a cute animated video of the song:
The German version by Andrea Bocelli:
Origins and History
The origins of O Tannenbaum can be traced back to mid-1500s Germany. The roots lie in Silesia. A later version of the song was written by Melchior Franck in 1615. It was called Ach Tannenbaum and based on the original local folk song.
Then in 1819, August Zarnack used the song as an inspiration for a tragic love song. He compared the faithfulness of a fir tree (die Tanne) to that of a lover's betrayal. August Zarnack used adjectives like true and faithful to describe the fir leaves and highlight how the ladylove was the opposite of it. Over the years, the word treu (faithful) became grün (green).
In 1824, Ernst Anschütz, a teacher and music composer, wrote the modern version of O Tannenbaum. He added a couple of additional verses to the original folk song. Still, it was not a Christmas song. It didn’t describe a decorated Christmas tree. The song was only about fir trees.
Decorating Christmas trees became a part of the celebrations in the 19th century. The original lyrics were tweaked to convert it into a Christmas song. There are many translations of the song, some longer and more detailed than others.
More songs were produced in German and English to describe the Christmas tree. Most of these are inspired by O Tannenbaum. People continue to sing it even today (though they use spruce trees for Christmas decorations).
FAQs
Guess what! Some researchers say that Christian Germans in the 16th century first brought Christmas trees into their homes. It is believed that Martin Luther King was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with a lit candle.
Well, it was considered a pagan symbol and rejected by many people until Queen Victoria made it popular in 1846. That’s when Christmas carols also became famous. Nature worship is pagan culture, after all.
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