Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2009
December 5
"Lasst uns froh und munter sein" is a traditional German Christmas song for kids, who anticipate Nikolausabend - or Nicholas Eve - when they place a shoe outside their door in hopes St. Nicholas will come and fill it with sweets that night. However, if they've been naughty, they can expect a tree branch instead! The song varies by region; we've included one set of lyrics below. Nicholas Eve is December 5th, so place your shoe out tonight!
This piece was performed by Sarah-Mary Gerchman, Greg's sister-in-law. Her cat, Casper, also makes an appearance at the very end. Sarah-Mary is a German major at Mount Holyoke College. She is very new at the piano, but hopes to one day have a big enough repertoire for an entire German Christmas sing-along.
Downloads: mp3
Lasst uns froh und munter sein
Performed by Sarah-Mary Gerchman on piano
Words and music: Traditional German carol
Deutsch
Lasst uns froh und munter sein
Und uns in dem Herzen freun!
Refrain
Lustig, lustig, tralera-lera,
Bald ist Nikolausabend da!
Bald ist Nikolausabend da!
Bald ist uns're Schule aus
Dann zieh'n wir vergnügt nach Haus.
Refrain
Dann stell ich den Teller auf,
Niklaus legt gewiß was drauf,
Refrain
Wenn ich schlaf, dann träume ich:
Jetzt bringt Niklaus was für mich.
Refrain
Wenn ich aufgestanden bin,
Lauf ich schnell zum Teller hin.
Refrain
Niklaus ist ein guter Mann,
Dem man nicht g'nug danken kann.
Refrain
English
Let us be happy and cheerful
And rejoice in our hearts!
Refrain
Merry, merry, tra-la-ra-la-ra,
Soon Nicholas Eve will be here!
Soon Nicholas Eve will be here!
When at last the school day ends,
Home I'll go with all my friends.
Refrain
Then I put the plate out
Nick'll surely put somethin' on it.
Refrain
When I sleep then I dream:
Now Nicholas brings me something.
Refrain
When I rise (in the morning)
I dash quickly to the plate.
Refrain
Nicholas is a good man
Whom we can't thank enough.
Refrain