O Tannenbaum - wikipedia O Tannenbaum This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2012 ) `` O Tannenbaum '' Silver Fir ( Abies alba ) Song Language German English title O Christmas Tree Published 1824 Songwriter ( s ) Ernst Anschütz, based on a 16th - century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck `` O Tannenbaum '' ( German : ( oː ˈtanənbaʊm ) ; `` O fir tree '', English : `` O Christmas Tree '' ) is a German Christmas song. Based on a traditional folk song, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree by the early 20th century and sung as a Christmas carol. Contents 1 History 2 Melody 3 Lyrics 4 Other uses 5 They Might Be Giants version 5.1 Recording history 5.2 Packaging 5.3 Track listing 5.4 Personnel 6 Other notable recordings 7 References 8 External links History The modern lyrics were written in 1824, by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree. The lyrics do not actually refer to Christmas, or describe a decorated Christmas tree. Instead, they refer to the fir 's evergreen qualities as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness. Anschütz based his text on a 16th - century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck, `` Ach Tannenbaum ''. Joachim August Zarnack ( 1777 -- 1827 ) 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, faithful ) 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. Melody The tune is an old folk tune attested in the 16th century. It is also known as the tune of Es lebe hoch der Zimmermannsgeselle and of Lauriger Horatius. O Tannenbaum Bilingual performance of the first verse by the U.S. Army Band Chorus Problems playing this file ? See media help. Lyrics Anschütz ( 1824 ) One English version Another version 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 ! Jump up ^ A common variation replaces the word `` treu '' ( faithful ) with `` grün '' ( green ). Jump up ^ Or `` Wie oft hat schon zur Winterzeit '' O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us ! They are green when summer days are bright, They are green when winter snow is white. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your branches green delight us ! 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 Forever true your colour. Your boughs so green in summertime Stay bravely green in wintertime. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Forever true your colour. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree You fill my heart with music. Reminding me on Christmas Day To think of you and then be gay. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree You fill my heart with music. 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 ! Other uses This section indiscriminately collects miscellaneous information. Please compress this material to remove any irrelevant or unimportant information. ( February 2017 ) The tune has also been used ( as a contrafactum ) to carry other texts on many occasions. Some notable uses include : `` The Red Flag '', anthem of the British and Irish Labour Parties Florida -- `` Florida, My Florida '' -- former state song Maryland -- `` Maryland, My Maryland '' -- official state song Michigan -- `` Michigan, My Michigan '' -- widely believed to be the official state song Iowa -- `` The Song of Iowa '' -- official state song The tune was used for the national anthem ( `` O Parador '' ) of the fictional country Parador in the 1988 film Moon over Parador. Cornell University 's Evening Song is sung to the tune of `` O Tannenbaum '' and is played nightly at the end of the evening chimes concert. The College of the Holy Cross 's alma mater is sung to the tune of `` O Tannenbaum '' The school songs of Nankai schools, including Tianjin Nankai High School, Nankai University and Chongqing Nankai Secondary School The school song of Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii `` Oh Holy Name '', the corps song of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps uses a variation of the tune. The students of Trinity College in the University of Toronto sing their school song to the tune of `` O Tannenbaum '' When traveling by bus, schoolchildren in Sweden sing `` En busschaufför '' ( Swedish : `` a bus driver '' ) or `` Vår busschaufför '' ( `` Our bus driver '' ) to the melody. Albany -- `` Albany, O Albany '' song for the city of Albany, New York St. Bonaventure University -- Bonaventure Alma Mater, `` With Myrtle Wreath We 'll Deck Thy Brow '' The Scout Vespers, used by the Boy Scouts of America, is sung to the melody. `` Opening Ode '' of the Knights of Columbus. They Might be Giants version `` O Tannenbaum '' Single by They Might Be Giants B - side `` Christmas Cards '' Released Recorded Fairfax High School, 1992 Excello, New York City, 1993 Genre Alternative Length 4 : 37 Label Elektra Producer ( s ) They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants singles chronology `` I Palindrome I '' ( 1992 ) `` O Tannenbaum '' ( 1993 ) `` Snail Shell '' ( 1994 ) `` I Palindrome I '' ( 1992 ) `` O Tannenbaum '' ( 1993 ) `` Snail Shell '' ( 1994 ) The song was recorded by They Might Be Giants and released on a transparent green 7 - inch record to celebrate Christmas of 1993. The title track later appeared on their 2001 compilation EP, Holidayland. Recording history `` O Tannenbaum '' is the first recording by They Might Be Giants to utilise their live touring outfit. The duo had recently expanded to include a live bass player, drummer, and horn section for their Do n't Tread on the Cut - Up Snake World Tour 1992 to promote Apollo 18. The song was recorded during a soundcheck at Fairfax High School on 20 November 1992. `` Christmas Cards '', which also utilises a live drummer and bassist, was recorded on 5 July 1993 at Excello Studio in Brooklyn. `` O Tannenbaum '' is sung entirely in German by John Linnell. The recording only includes the first verse. According to John Flansburgh, the band was provided with a phonetic transliteration from a German - speaking friend. Packaging The cover artwork for the EP was illustrated by Amy Sillman. The songs are pressed on either side of a transparent green 7 '' record. The labels use an Elektra Records logo recreated by John Flansburgh and Barbara Lipp for the Apollo 18 album. Track listing No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` O Tannenbaum '' Traditional 2 : 05 2. `` Christmas Cards '' They Might Be Giants 2 : 32 Personnel They Might Be Giants : John Flansburgh -- electric guitar, vocals ; John Linnell -- accordion, vocals Additional musicians : Brian Doherty -- drums on track 2 ; Jonathan Feinberg -- drums on track 1 ; Graham Maby -- bass Production : Paul Angelli -- recording and mixing, track 1 ; Pat Dillett -- recording and mixing, track 2 Other notable recordings This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2017 ) An early recording of the song was by the Nebe Quartett in August 1905. The English version of this song is renditioned in the Disney film, Swiss Family Robinson. A Charlie Brown Christmas ( 1965 ) -- instrumental, arranged by Vince Guaraldi. References Jump up ^ Wook Kim ( December 17, 2012 ). `` Yule Laugh, Yule Cry : 10 Things You Did n't Know About Beloved Holiday Songs ( With holiday cheer in the air, TIME takes a closer look at some of the weird stories behind our favorite seasonal tunes ) ''. TIME. -- `` O Tannenbaum '' ( p. 5 ) Jump up ^ `` O Tannenbaum '' : Originalhandschrift im Stadtarchiv Leipzig '' by Birgit Horn - Kolditz, in Sächsisches Archivblatt, no. 2 2008, p. 3, State Archive of Saxony ( in German ) Jump up ^ 1970s ? Jump up ^ 1910s ? Jump up ^ `` Rev. C.V. Waugh ''. Alachua County Library District Heritage Collection. Retrieved 12 February 2008. Jump up ^ `` New Citizen Civic Handbook, page 44 '' ( PDF ). sos.state.ia.us. 2006. Retrieved 26 December 2006. Jump up ^ `` Musiknavet '' ( PDF ). Idébanken. 2005. p. 22. Retrieved 20 September 2014. Jump up ^ Saint Bonavenure University website http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/archives/football/Cheers.htm. Accessed 2014 January 3. Jump up ^ `` Scout Vesper ''. ScoutSongs.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 27. Jump up ^ Feinberg, Jonathan. `` JDF Discography ''. Retrieved 2013 - 05 - 22. ^ Jump up to : `` O Tannenbaum '' ( Release notes ). Elektra Records. 1992. Jump up ^ Seattle Weekly interview with John Flansburgh, December 2001. Accessed 2012 - 08 - 05. Jump up ^ Apollo 18 ( Album notes ). Elektra Records. 1992. Jump up ^ https://archive.org/details/edgm-15354 Tobias Widmaier : `` O Tannenbaum '' in : Populäre und traditionelle Lieder. Historisch - kritisches Liederlexikon des Deutschen Volksliedarchivs ( 2007 ). External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to O Tannenbaum. German Wikisource has original text related to this article : O Tannenbaum ( Zarnack ) `` Eglite '' -- old recording of the song and article from The Hermann von Helmholtz Center for Cultural Technology ( in German ) MP3 and Arrangement of `` O Tannenbaum '' ( sheet music in JPG ) Notes `` O Tannenbaum '' ( sheet music in GIF ) `` O Tannenbaum '' multilingual -- MIDI and lyrics for `` O Tannenbaum '' and `` O Christmas Tree '' Sheet music in JPEG format, MIDI, and lyrics to `` O Tannenbaum '' Lyrics and MP3 of `` O Christmas Tree '' by the Layaways An early recording of the song, by the Nebe Quartett in August 1905. Free-scores.com Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=O_Tannenbaum&oldid=817043814 '' Categories : Christmas carols Christmas in Germany Christmas songs German songs German - language songs Songs about plants 1824 songs They Might Be Giants songs Songwriter unknown Elektra Records singles Hidden categories : Articles containing German - language text Articles with German - language external links Articles needing additional references from January 2012 All articles needing additional references Articles needing the year an event occurred from January 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats Articles with trivia sections from February 2017 All articles with trivia sections All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2016 Song articles with missing songwriters Track listings with deprecated parameters Articles needing additional references from May 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Italiano Latina Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska Tagalog Українська Vèneto 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 December 2017, at 18 : 20. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when was the song oh christmas tree written
Answer: 1824