Please join in singing as you wish!
Songs will be sung in the following order. Scroll down or click a title to jump to a specific song.
One Horse Open Sleigh (or Jingle Bells)
This is a German Christmas Carol that dates to the mid-16th century. It’s a Christmas carol that doesn’t actually mention Christmas. Instead, it speaks to the beauty and meaning of the tree itself.
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 Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren
https://genius.com/Ernst-anschutz-o-tannenbaum-lyrics
*Original words written in 1857
Dashing thro’ the snow
On a one horse open sleigh
(O’er the hills we go*) O’er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tail ring,
making spirits bright
(Oh what sport to ride and sing*) What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Chorus:
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
(Oh, what joy it is to ride*) Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
(Oh, what joy it is to ride*) Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
A day or two ago,
I thought I’d take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank,
(And we got upsot*) And then we got upsot
Repeat Chorus
Now the ground is white
Go it while you’re young
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song
Just get a bob-tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! You’ll take the lead
Repeat Chorus
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Musik: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818
Text: Joseph Mohr, 1816/1818
In Oberndorf, Austria
Henry W. Longfellow 1864
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play;
In music sweet the tones repeat,
“There’s peace on earth, good will to men.”
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’ unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,
For Christ is here; His Spirit near
Brings peace on earth, good will to men.”
When men repent and turn from sin
The Prince of Peace then enters in,
And grace imparts within their hearts
His peace on earth, good will to men.
O souls amid earth’s busy strife,
The Word of God is light and life;
Oh, hear His voice, make Him your choice,
Hail peace on earth, good will to men.
Then happy, singing on your way,
Your world will change from night to day;
Your heart will feel the message real,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
1833
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?
Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the Souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the Souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas day in the morning.
16th – 18th Century
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
[Chorus]
Good tidings we bring
to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
And bring some out here
[Chorus]
Good tidings we bring
to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
For we all like figgy pudding
So bring some out here
[Chorus]
Good tidings we bring
to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year
And we won’t go until we got some
And we won’t go until we got some
And we won’t go until we got some
So bring some out here
[Chorus]
Good tidings we bring
to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year