Englische Weihnachtslieder
Die ältesten Weihnachtslieder unseres westlichen Kulturkreises stammen aus dem Mittelalter und sind lateinische Hymnen, die zunächst in England fester Bestandteil des Gottesdienstes waren. Erst später hielten sie Einzug in Wohnzimmer und Kinderzimmer, denn manche dichtete man zu Kinderliedern um. Ursprünglich hatten Weihnachtslieder immer lithurgischen Bezug. Die sogenannten "Christmas Carols" in England umfassen alle Musikstücke, die traditionelle Formen haben. Das Stück "White Christmas" ist nach dieser Definition lediglich ein Winterlied, denn es entspricht nicht der weihnachtlichen Tradition. Erst im 18. Jahrhundert wurde das Singen von Weihnachtsliedern, teilweise mit Schilderungen der Weihnachtsgeschichte, Bestandteil der häuslichen Weihnachtsfeier und erlebte im 19. Jahrhundert eine ungeahnte Blütezeit. Es waren vor allem die Komponisten, die dem Weihnachtslied zu großer Beliebtheit verhalfen. Im Laufe der Zeit verloren die Inhalte ihren Bezug zu christlichen Überlieferung. Im Zuge der Globalisierung verwischen auch die Ländergrenzen. Längst gibt es heute eine Vermischung zwischen typischen Liedern der Advents- und Liedern der Weihnachtszeit. Einige englische Weihnachtslieder finden sich in der folgenden Liste.
Englische Weihnachtslieder
Klicken Sie sich durch unsere Weihnachtslieder Liste mit englischen Liedtexten. Auf geht's!
Winter Wonderland
Autor: Richard B. Smith
Sleighbells ring, are you listening?
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight,
Walking in a Winterwonderland!
Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird,
He sings a love song, as we go along
Walking in a Winterwonderland!
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man - but you can do the job when you're in town.
Later on we'll conspire
as we dream by the fire
to face unafraid the plans that we made
Walking in a Winterwonderland!
Sleighbells ring, are you listening?
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight,
Walking in a Winterwonderland!
Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird,
He sings a love song, as we go along
Walking in a Winterwonderland!
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
then pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with Mister Snowman
until the other kiddies knock him down.
When it snows, ain't it thrilling
tho your nose gets a chill
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
Walking in a Winterwonderland!
Away in a manger
Autor: unbekannt
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.
Coventry Carol
Autor: unbekannt
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Herod, the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.
That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever mourn and sigh,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Ding dong merrily on high
Autor: George Ratcliffe Woodward
Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Deck the Halls
Autor: unbekannt
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis' the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Troll the ancient Christmas Carol,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.,
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry Christmas
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la la la la la
The First Nowell
Autor: unbekannt
The first noel the Angel did say,
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter's night, that was so deep
REFRAIN:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star,
shining in the east, beyond them far.
And to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night
REFRAIN
And by the light of that same star,
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
REFRAIN
The star drew nigh to the north-west,
o'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where jesus lay.
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Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there, in His presence,
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
REFRAIN
Then let us all with one accord,
sing praises to our heavenly lord.
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood mankind hath bought.
REFRAIN
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Autor: unbekannt
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Jingle Bells
Autor: James Lord Pierpont
Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
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 then we got upsot
Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Kings of Orient
Autor: John Henry Hopkins
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
REFRAIN:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
REFRAIN
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.
REFRAIN
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
REFRAIN
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.
REFRAIN
Joy to the World
Autor: Isaac Watts
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Autor: unbekannt
Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul
What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon;
Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
Tell me if you can.
When the clock is striking twelve,
When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black,
With your pack you'll creep;
All the stockings you will find
Hanging in a row;
Mine will be the shortest one,
You'll be sure to know.
Johnny wants a pair of skates;
Susy wants a dolly;
Nellie wants a story book;
She thinks dolls are folly;
As for me, my little brain
Isn't very bright;
Choose for me, old Santa Claus,
What you think is right.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Autor: Edmund H. Sears
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heaven’s all-gracious King" –
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel-sounds
The blessed angels sing.
But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love song which they bring; –
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!
And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing; –
Oh, rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever circling years
Shall come the age of gold;
When Peace shall over all the earth,
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song,
Which now the angels sing.
I Saw Three Ships
Autor: unbekannt
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 Savior Christ and His lady,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Our Savior 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 Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the angels in Heav’n 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 rejoice amain,
On Christmas day in the morning.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Autor: Henry W. Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
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 doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
The Holly and the Ivy
Autor: unbekannt
The holly and the ivy,
now are both well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
the holly bears the crown.
REFRAIN:
Oh, the rising of the sun
and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom
as white as lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
to be our sweet saviour
REFRAIN
The holly bears a berry
as red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
to do poor sinners good.
REFRAIN
The holly bears a prickle
as sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
on Christmas Day in the morn.
REFRAIN
The holly bears a bark
as bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
for to redeem us all.
REFRAIN
We wish you a merry Christmas
Autor: unbekannt
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring,
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
We want some figgy pudding
Please bring it right here!
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
We all know that Santa's coming,
And soon will be here.
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a happy New Year.
We wish you a merry Christmas
Autor: Volkslied aus England
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We all like our figgy pudding;
We all like our figgy pudding;
We all like our figgy pudding;
With all its good cheer.
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Good tidings we bring for 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!
And a Happy New Year!
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!