Christmas carol spin cycle

Last week, we looked at the history behind some of your favourite Christmas songs. This week, in true holiday spirit, I’ve run the top two—Silent Night and O Holy Night—through a bit of a multilingual spin cycle courtesy of Google Translate.

It’s a circuitous process: I have taken the original German/French words from each carol and translated those first into English, then into the other language (Silent Night into French, O Holy Night into German), then back into English, then into Māori (for a bit of a non-European twist), back into English again, and then into their original language once more before putting it back in English so we poor monoglots can read it.

Enjoy the following confusion, blame Google for the blasphemy, and feel free to share the festive cheer if it tickles you as much as it does me!

Silent Night

Original German

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

Standard English translation

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
’round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav'nly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!”

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from Thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!

Google Translate spin cycle version

Silent Night Holy Night
Everything is sleeping; wake up alone
The one and only holy couple.
Sweet boy with curly hair,
Sleep in peace! Sleep in peace!

Silent Night Holy Night,
was announced to the shepherds for the first time
By the angel Alleruia,
A scream from the distance:
Christ the Savior is here! Christ the Savior is here!

Silent Night Holy Night,
Son of God, what a joke
The love of your divine mouth,
The hour of redemption has come for us.
Christian, at your birth! Christian, at your birth!

O Holy Night

Original French

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle
Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous.
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de son père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance
A cette nuit qui lui donne un sauveur.
Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance
Noël! Noël! Voici le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël! Voici le Rédempteur!

De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'enfant
Comme autrefois, une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.
Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche
Puissants du jour fiers de votre grandeur,
A votre orgueil, c'est de là qu'un Dieu prèche;
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur!
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur!

Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:
La terre est libre et le ciel est ouvert
Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance
C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt
Peuple debout chante ta délivrance :
Noël! Noël! Chantons le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël! Chantons le Rédempteur!

Standard English translation adaption

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Wise Men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

Google Translate spin cycle version

Midnight, Christians, is the great hour
The human god has come down to us.
To remove the original stain
By his Father, stop getting angry.
The whole world is full of hope
Until tonight he gives us a savior.
People are on their knees waiting for your salvation
Christmas! Christmas! Here is the Savior!
Christmas! Christmas! Here is the Savior!

Of our faith, oh light of fire
This leads us all to the child's nest
It's still a shining star
Bring the leaders of the East there.
The King of Kings was born in a humble animal
O great men of this time, proud of your greatness,
It is a matter of pride for you that God preached there;
Bow your forehead before the Savior!
Bow your forehead before the Savior!

The Savior has broken all barriers:
The earth is free and the sky is open
He saw a brother who was just a servant
Love unites those bound by iron.
Who will thank him? For all of us, we were born, suffered and died
Your salvation will be sung by those who rise:
Christmas! Christmas! Let us sing to the Savior!
Christmas! Christmas! Let us sing to the Savior!

Meri Kirihimete, and thanks for reading Red Pens and Playwriting!