12 Carols: Still, Still, Still And Fum, Fum, Fum

Our carols today are both one word repeated three times, and both of them aren’t English, though both are often translated into English.

Carol #2, "Still, Still, Still" is a traditional Austrian Christmas carol that spends its chorus telling people to hush so the baby can sleep. You’d think a bunch of angels singing in the background would make you less inclined to sleep rather than more so, but hey, I didn’t write the song.

Mannheim Steamroller did a version of the tune, but I like this one from the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Here are the German and English lyrics, and here is the video:

And now for something completely different: Carol #3, a bouncy, fast Christmas tune written in a language people typically can’t even identify when they hear it. Don’t believe me? Give it a listen.

Spanish? No. French? No. Latin? No. Portuguese? No.

Fum, Fum, Fum is a traditional Christmas song originally written in Catalan, probably some time in the 16th or 17th century. "Fum, fum, fum" is supposed to sound like someone using a strumming instrument, such as a guitar. (Wikipedia has the Catalan and English and Spanish translations too.)

Here’s an English version which has some easier to understand lyrics:

If you missed the first installment of 12 Carols, check it out.

3 Responses

  1. Thaddeus A. Figlock MD

    As a Jesuit Prepster (Fairfield CT) we learned Fum! Fum! Fum! as a favorite of St. Ignatius Loyola. I wonder if it is a favorite Christmas Carol of the present Holy Father, Pope Francis. A personal treasure is the Polish Carol-Today in Bethlehem (Dzisaj W Betlejem) which John Paul 2 surely learned and loved as a child because it often is performed by children who make the noises of manger animals. I am a radio amateur (W1HGY) and am sure our Patron Saint, Max Kolbe, SP3RN also loved it.

  2. Thaddeus A. Figlock MD

    As a Jesuit Prepster in Fairfield Conn back in 1948, I learned Catalonian Fum!,Fum! Fum! as the favorite carol of St. Ignatius Loyola. Perhaps it is also dear to the present Holy Father, Jesuit Pope Francis. A personal favorite is the Polish Dzisai w Betlejem (Today in Bethlehem) and it may have been dear to Pope John Paul 2 because it is often performed by children who get to make the noises of the manger animals. I am a ham radio operator (W1HGY) and am positive that our Patron, Saint Max Kolbe (SP3RN) was fond of it, too. Ted Figlock.

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