Still, Still, Still (Hush Hush Hush)

Still, Still, Still is an engaging, tender and poetic lullaby that usually enchants parishioners and other listeners alike. The song sends us the message of jubilation for being given the greatest of gifts yet in such a humble form of a baby. This carol is expressed by some as being very popular, yet it is quite difficult to come across any thorough historical information about it other than its Austrian beginnings.

Still, Still, Still

The tune of this charming Weihnachtslied (Christmas Song) is based on an 1819 melody by Maria Vinzenz Süss, with the original words, slightly changed over time and location, by Georg Götsch.

Georg Götsch

The tune appeared for the first time in "Salzburgische Volkslieder mit ihren Singweisen" (1865), a collection of folk songs from Salzburg.

Still, still, still

The words, which run to six verses in German, describe the peace of the infant Jesus and his mother as the baby is sung to sleep. They have changed slightly over the years. Although a number of verses exist, three are commonly sung in their English translation.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

The melody has the fetching simplicity of a children's tune. The thrice reiterated word at the beginning of each verse is sung to steady eighth notes of an arpeggiated major chord—for example, "still" to tones 5 and 8, "still" to 3 and 5, and the final "still" to the single tonic note.

Dream, dream, dream

Lines 2, 3, and 4 employ neighboring tones at double the speed—for example, "weil's" is sung to two sixteenths on steps 1 and 3, "Kind-" to an eighth note on step 2, and so on. The final two lines repeat the same phrases for lines 1 and 2.

Still, Still, Still – original german lyrics

Still, still, still,
Weil's Kindlein schlafen will.
Die Engel tun schön jubilieren
[Die Engel tun schön musizieren],
Bei dem Kripplein musizieren.
[bei dem Kindlein jublieren]
Still, still, still,
Weil's Kindlein schlafen will.

Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liebes Kindlein, schlaf!
Maria tut dich [es] niedersingen
Und ihr treues Herz darbringen.
[ihre keusche Brust darbringen]
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,
Mein liebes Kindlein, schlaf!

Groß, groß, groß,
Die Lieb' ist übergroß.
Gott hat den Himmelsthron verlassen
Und muß reisen auf der Straßen.
Groß, groß, groß,
Die Lieb' ist übergroß.

Auf, auf, auf,
Ihr Adamskinder auf!
Fallet Jesum all zu Füßen,
Weil er für uns d'Sünd tut büßen!
Auf, auf, auf,
Ihr Adamskinder auf!

Wir, wir, wir,
Wir rufen all zu dir:
"Tu uns des Himmels Reich aufschließen,
Wenn wir einmal sterben müssen.
Wir, wir, wir,
Wir rufen all zu dir."

Ruh't, ruh't, ruh't,
Weil's Kindlein schlafen tut.
Sankt Josef löscht das Lichtlein aus,
Die Englein schützen's kleine Haus.
Ruh't, ruh't, ruh't,
Weil's Kindlein schlafen tut.

Norman Luboff, sheet music

English lyrics (Norman Luboff 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.

Still