A Blessed Christmas

To you and yours, if you celebrate.

One of the lesser-known songs that I love is the Austrian carol whose name is usually translated as "Still, Still, Still."

These are supposed to be the original lyrics. I do not know much German, and I don't know how Austrian differs from German, but this site says these are the words:

1. Still, still, still, Weil’s
Kindlein schlafen will!
Maria tut es niedersingen
Ihre keusche Burst darbingen,
Still, still, still,
Weil Kindlein schlafen will.

2. Schlef, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liabes Kindlein, schlaf!
Die Engel tuan scho musizieren
Bei dem Kindlein jubilieren,
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liabes Kindlein, schlaf!

There are a number of different translations, some of which seem to remove a lot of the religious content (it is more a generic lullaby, than it is one that refers to Mary and Jesus). This is the translation I think I like best (there is still one stanza in German):

Still, still, still.
The night is cold and chill!
The virgin's tender arms enfolding,
Warm and safe the Christ child holding.
Still, still, still,
The night is cold and chill.

Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf.
Mein liebes Kindlein, schlaf.
Die Engel tun schön musizieren,
Bei dem Kindlein jubilieren,
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liebes Kindlein, schlaf!

2. Dream, dream, dream.
He sleeps, the Savior King.
While guardian angels watch beside Him,
Mary tenderly will guide Him.
Dream, dream, dream.
He sleeps, the Savior King.

And here is the song, sung, using the alternative English lyrics:



And in the original German: