Tuesday, December 12, 2017 by Mary O'Connor | holiday

Still, Still, Still is an Austrian Christmas carol and lullaby. In German its first line is "Still, still, still, weil's Kindlein schlafen will!" (Hush, hush, hush, for the little child wants to sleep!)

The melody is a folk tune (authorship unknown) from the State of Salzburg. The tune appeared for the first time in 1865 in a folksong collection of Maria Vinzenz Süß (1802-1868), founder of the Salzburg Museum; it has changed slightly over the years but remains attributed to G. Götsch.

The words, which run to six verses in German, describe the peace of the infant Jesus and his mother as they sleep. There are various English translations.  This is one version:

Still, still, still,
 One can hear the falling snow.
 For all is hushed,
 The world is sleeping,
 Holy Star its vigil keeping.
 Still, still, still,
 One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
 'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.
 The night is peaceful all around you,
 Close your eyes,
 Let sleep surround you.
 Sleep, sleep, sleep,
 'Tis the eve of our Saviour's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,
  Of the joyous day to come.
 While guardian angels without number,
 Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
 Dream, dream, dream,
  Of the joyous day to come.

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