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This happens to be one of my favorite Christmas carols. We use to sing it in my junior high school choir.
O Christmas Tree originates from Germany as O Tannenbaum with German lyrics and has been handed down to us over the years to its present English form. A quick search online does not yield an author's name. So I imagine that the song has been around for a long time.
Oh Christmas Tree was also played as background music in Charlie Brown's Christmas movie. The song gave a strong sense of purpose in Charlie's determination to make Christmas work without commercialism and using the one real tree he picked out. The only real tree available in the tree market. It was all but rejected by everybody but him.
Yes, Charlie Brown's preference for a real tree over an artificial Christmas tree is ironic considering this site's theme. But hey, this is still a cool song and a cool Charlie Brown movie. Plus, when money is tight, an artificial unlit Christmas tree that you can use and decorate for years and years is still the way to go.
Finally, the lyrics. You can listen to the Oh Christmas Tree midi as well for sing-a-long:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
The sight of thee at Christmastide
Spreads hope and gladness far and wide
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Thou tree most fair and lovely!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou hast a wondrous message:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou hast a wondrous message:
Thou dost proclaim the Saviour's birth
Good will to men and peace on earth
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Thou hast a wondrous message
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
Your boughs are green in summer's glow
And do not fade in winter's snow
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
You stand in verdant beauty
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How laden are your branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
Your presence here enhances
Your silver star does glisten bright
Reflecting all the candlelight
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How laden are your branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety
On Christmas Day you stand so tall
Affording joy to one and all
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
You fill all hearts with gaiety