O Tannenbaum

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.

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 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!

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

Other uses

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

• British Labour Party - The Red Flag
• Cornell University - Evening Song
• Nankai University (Tianjin, China) - university song
• Maryland - Maryland, My Maryland - official state song
• Iowa - The Song of Iowa - official state song
• Florida - Florida, My Florida - former state song

Other versions include:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas - instrumental, arranged by Vince Guaraldi
• Snoopy's Christmas - introduction cites the first two lines of the second verse of the song, in German.

The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades

Williamson Trade School in Media, Pennsylvania's alma mater song, has the lyrics:

A name there is which we revere
Williamson, Our Williamson
It Swells our heart with love and cheer
Williamson, Our Williamson
To live the truth, thy watchword stands
May we be loyal to thy demands
And champion truth where'er she stands
Williamson, Our Williamson

When by the worlds hard task dismayed
Williamson, Our Williamson
Whenever think of pledges made
Williamson, Our Williamson
We learned to share our glorious gift
You fill our hearts with thoughts that lift
And now we pledge our love a new
Williamson, Our Williamson

Media

References

External links

• Easybyte - free easy piano music for "O Tannenbaum"
• "O TANNENBAUM - O CHRISTMAS TREE"
• Notenblatt des Weihnachtsliedes in deutsch
• "O Tannenbaum" multilingual
• Melody "O Tannenbaum" (MIDI)
• Notes "O Tannenbaum"
• "Eglite"
• "My Maryland"