🎵 Christmas Carol Lyrics

O Christmas Tree lyrics

The full traditional words to O Christmas Tree, verse by verse, with a little of the carol's history.

The words

Traditional Medium

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure thou can'st give me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure thou can'st give me!
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure thou can'st give me!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit, gay and bright,
There's only splendour for the sight.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine so brightly!

All carol lyrics

About O Christmas Tree

O Christmas Tree is the English version of O Tannenbaum, a German folk song about a fir tree that stays green all winter. The best known German words were written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz, a teacher and organist in Leipzig, who built on an older folk song.

Christmas trees were already popular in Germany by then, and the custom spread to Britain in the 1840s after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were pictured with one at Windsor Castle.

O Christmas Tree is traditional and out of copyright, so the words are free to print and sing at school, at church or at home. For printable sheets, download our free carols and activities pack (PDF).