Freddy was born on September 27th, 1931 in Vienna, Austria. In his youth he… Read Full Bio ↴Freddy was born on September 27th, 1931 in Vienna, Austria. In his youth he loves the circus, but in 1950 he chooses for music and starts singing in the bars from Hamburg.
In 1952 he joins an international competition for the first time in Belfast, Ireland, where he wins the first prize.
However it takes till 1954 before he records his first songs, mainly songs about life at sea and some country music.
He soon extends his career by learning to act, and he will join several movies in Germany.
1956 sees Freddy representing Germany at the first Eurovision Song Contest together with Walter Andreas Schwarz. It is the only year that countries enter the contest with two songs. No points are given, and only the winner, Lys Assia is anounced.
Freddy's songs however become instant hits in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Belgium and several other countries.
"La Paloma","Junge, komm bald wieder" and "Die Gitarre und das Meer" bring him fame, golden records and many awards.
Freddy keeps singing all his life, and in 2002 he makes his last tour, which ends in the city where he is born : Vienna.

O Tannenbaum
Freddy Quinn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 Christmas tree, o Christmas tree

How loyal are your leaves/needles!
You’re green not only
In the summertime,
No, also in winter when it snows
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!
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 Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
You can please me very much!
How often has not at Christmastime
A tree like you given me such joy!
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
You can please me very much!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Dein Kleid will mich
Was lehren
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft
Zu jeder Zeit
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!

Das soll dein Kleid
Mich lehren.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Freddy Quinn's song O Tannenbaum are a beautiful ode to the Christmas tree. The repeated refrain of "O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter!" ("O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, how loyal are your leaves/needles!") emphasizes the loyalty of the evergreen tree, which stays green all year round, even in winter when everything else is brown and sparse. The singer expresses their admiration and delight in the tree, which has often filled them with joy during Christmastime. The final verse goes deeper, acknowledging the symbolism of the tree's steadfastness and resilience, teaching us lessons of hope and perseverance.

Line by Line Meaning

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
How loyal are your leaves/needles!

Du grünst nicht nur
You're green not only

Zur Sommerzeit
In the summertime

Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit
No, also in winter when it snows

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,

Wie treu sind deine Blätter!
How loyal are your leaves/needles!

Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
You can please me very much!

Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
How often has not at Christmastime

Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
A tree like you given me such joy!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,