The modern lyrics were written in 1824 by the Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz.

[1] Anschütz based his text on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck[citation needed], "Ach Tannenbaum".

Anschütz's version still had treu (true, faithful) as the adjective describing the fir's leaves (needles), harking back to the contrast to the faithless maiden of the folk song.

This was changed to grün (green) at some point in the 20th century, after the song had come to be associated with Christmas.

[citation needed] It is also known as the tune of "Es lebe hoch der Zimmermannsgeselle" ("Long Live the Carpenter’s Apprentice"[3]) and of "Lauriger Horatius" ("Time’s A-flying"[4]).

Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.

Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit Gibt Mut und Kraft zu jeder Zeit!

Through summer’s heat and winter’s chill Your leaves are green and blooming still.

How oft at Christmas tide the sight, O green fir tree, gives us delight!

For ev'ry year the Christmas tree, Brings to us all both joy and glee.

Each bough doth hold its tiny light, That makes each toy to sparkle bright.