This traditional carol in Latin and German dates from at least the 14th century. The words may have been written by the German Dominican monk Heinrich Seuse (Henry Suso in English), but that is not an established fact. It is known that Heinrich mentioned this song in his autobiography. Seuse was born in 1295 near Lake Constance and died in Ulm, Germany, in 1366 which may be the reason this carol was so popular in Swabia, but that is also not an established fact - the reason for its popularity not the time and place of his birth and death.
DEUTSCH
Text: Heinrich Seuse,
14. Jahrhundert
In dulci jubilo,*
nun singet und seid froh!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
leit in præsepio
und leuchtet als die Sonne
matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O.
O Jesu parvule,
nach dir ist mir so weh.
Tröst mir mein Gemüte,
o puer optime;
durch alle deine Güte,
o princeps gloriae,
trahe me post te.
Ubi sunt gaudia?
Nirgend mehr denn da,
da die Engel singen
nova cantica
und die Schellen klingen
in regis curia.
Eia, wärn wir da!
O pater caritas
o mater lenitas
wir waren gar verdorben
per nostra crimina:
So hast du uns erworben
coelorum gaudia.
Maria, hilf uns da!
*Latin in italics.
ENGLISH
Words: Henry Suso, 14th century
Literal English prose
translation by Hyde Flippo
In sweet jubilation,
now sing and be joyous!
Our heart’s bliss
rests in a manger
and shines like the sun
in his mother’s lap.
You are the alpha and omega.
O tiny Jesus,
my heart aches for Thee.
Console me in my heart and soul,
o best of boys;
through all your good,
o prince of glory,
draw me to you.
Where are joys?
Nowhere more than there
where angels sing
new songs
and the bells ring
in the courts of the King.
Oh, were we only there!
Oh love of the Father
oh gentleness of the Mother
We were stained
by our crimes:
thus Thou hast for us acquired
the joys of heaven.
Maria, help us there!
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