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German Christmas Carols:
“Vom Himmel hoch, da komm
ich her”

 
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VOM HIMMEL HOCH, DA KOMM ICH HER

See a video and more about this carol below.
 


DEUTSCH
Musik: Volksweise
Text: Martin Luther, 1534

1.
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm'
  ich her.
Ich bring' euch gute neue Mär,
Der guten Mär bring' ich so viel,
Davon ich sing'n und sagen will.

2.
Euch ist ein Kindlein heut' gebor'n
Von einer Jungfrau auserkor'n,
Ein Kindelein, so zart und fein,
Das soll eur' Freud' und
  Wonne sein.

3.
Es ist der Herr Christ, unser Gott,
Der will euch führ'n aus
  aller Not,
Er will eu'r Heiland selber sein,

Von allen Sünden machen rein.

4.
Er bringt euch alle Seligkeit,
Die Gott der Vater hat bereit,
Dass ihr mit uns im Himmelreich
Sollt leben nun und ewiglich.

5.
So merket nun das Zeichen recht,
Die Krippe, Windelein so schlecht,

Da findet ihr das Kind gelegt,
Das alle Welt erhält und trägt.


6.
Des laßt uns alle fröhlich sein
Und mit den Hirten gehn hinein,
Zu sehn, was Gott uns
  hat beschert,
Mit seinem lieben Sohn verehrt.

ENGLISH
Traditional melody
Literal English translation - HF

1.
From heaven above,
  I come.
I bring you good new tidings,
Of glad tidings I bring so many,
Whereof I want to sing and say:

2.
To you a small child is born today
of a chosen Virgin;
A little child so tender and fine,
should be your joy and bliss.
 

3.
It is the Lord Christ, our Gott,
Who will lead you out of
  all adversity,
He Himself wants to be
  your Savior,
to purify you of all sins.

4.
He brings you all blessings,
that God the Father has ready,
(so) that you with us in heaven
should live, now and forever.

5.
So note now the sign right,
the manger, swaddling-clothes
  so bad,
There you'll find the Child laid,
who all the world maintains
  and bears.

6.
Let us all be of good cheer
and go with the shepherds thereto
to see what God has bestowed
  on us,
honored with his dear Son.

MORE > Traditional English lyrics for this carol


A video sing-along (with text)


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ABOUT THIS CAROL

This is one of many hymns written by Martin Luther (1483-1546), the German Protestant reformer. He wrote “Vom Himmel hoch” for a Christmas Eve festival that was held annually at his home. The text is based on the Bible verses in Luke 2: 1-18. The opening verses were traditionally sung by a man dressed as an angel proclaiming the birth of Jesus. The full Luther version has 15 verses, of which only the first six are shown above. The English version seen here is a literal prose translation. For the traditional English lyrics by Catherine Winkworth (with all 15 verses), see From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (1855).

MORE > Traditional English lyrics for this carol


 
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