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Da droben, da droben muß Christtag es sein,
Es leuchten und flimmern die Lichtelein;
Viel hundert und tausend, ach mehr wohl gar,
Die glänzen am Himmel so hell und so klar!
Dort oben, dort oben wohnt [alle Zeit]1
Christkindchen in himmlischer Herrlichkeit;
Es hat wohl den Engeln in dunkeler Nacht
Ein Bäumchen mit flimmernden Lichtern gebracht.
Dran hängen der goldenen Sternlein so viel
Den freundlichen Engeln ein liebliches Spiel;
Wie werden sich freuen die [Engel]2 heut
Und jubeln und singen in seliger Freud!
Dort oben, dort oben möcht' gerne ich sein[,]
Mich freu'n mit den heiligen Engelein,
Und wandeln im hellen, im himmlischen Saal
Und schauen die flimmernden Lichtlein zumal!
Confirmed with Kinder-Lieder von G. Ch. Dieffenbach, Mainz: Verlag von C.G. Kunze, 1854, page 23.
1 Kern: "allezeit"2 Kern: "Engelein"
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822 - 1901), "Der Christbaum im Himmel", appears in Kinder-Lieder, in 1. Fromme Lieder und Gebete aus dem Kindesleben, no. 29 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Eugen Hildach (1849 - 1924), "Der Christbaum im Himmel", op. 29 no. 16 [ voice and piano ], from Für die singende Kinderwelt. Eine Sammlung von 16 Liedern, no. 16, Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl August Kern (1836 - 1897), "Der Christbaum im Himmel", op. 36 no. 56, published 1877 [ vocal duet with piano ], from 60 Kinderlieder von G. Chr. Dieffenbach für 2 Singstimme mit leichter Pianofortebegleitung, no. 56, Mainz, Kunze's Nachf. [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Reinhold Reich (1842 - 1900), "Der Christbaum im Himmel", published 1883 [ vocal duet and piano ], from Christkindlein kommt! Kleine Lieder für zwei Singstimmen mit einfacher Pianofortebegleitung, no. 1, Langensalza: Beyer & Söhne [sung text not yet checked]
- by August Wiltberger (1850 - 1928), "Der Christbaum im Himmel", published 1879 [ voice and piano ], from Zwölf Lieder für junge Mädchen, für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 1, Köln, P.J. Tonger [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 113
Up yonder, up yonder it must be Christmas, The little lights are shining and flickering; Many hundreds and thousands, ah more even, They sparkle upon the sky so brightly and so clearly! Up yonder, up yonder the Christchild Lives in heavenly glory; In the dark night, the Christchild must have brought The angels a little tree with flickering lights. Upon it hang ever so many little stars, A lovely plaything for the amiable angels; How the [angels]1 shall be delighted today And rejoice and sing in blessed joy! Up yonder, up yonder I would dearly love to be, Sharing the joy of the dear holy angels, And walking about in the bright, in the heavenly halls, And especially, gazing upon the flickering little lights!
1 Kern: "dear angels"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Christian Dieffenbach (1822 - 1901), "Der Christbaum im Himmel", appears in Kinder-Lieder, in 1. Fromme Lieder und Gebete aus dem Kindesleben, no. 29
This text was added to the website: 2026-06-06
Line count: 16
Word count: 126