Tu scendi dalle stelle
Italian Nursery Rhyme
Original Lyrics
Tu scendi dalle stelle, o Re del cielo,E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo.O Bambino mio divino,Io ti vedo qui tremar;O Dio beato!Ah quanto ti costò l'avermi amato!
A te, che sei del mondo il Creatore,Mancano panni e foco, o mio Signore.Caro eletto pargoletto,Quanto questa povertàPiù m'innamora,Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora.
English meaning
You come down from the stars, O King of heaven,And come to a cave in the cold and frost.O my divine child,I see you shivering here.O blessed God!Ah, how much it cost you to love me!
You, the Creator of the world,Lack clothes and fire, O my Lord.Dear and precious little child,How much more this povertyMakes me love you,Since love made you poor.
Translation Notes
Translation Notes
The English above follows the Italian meaning. Foco is an older form of modern Italian fuoco, meaning “fire”.
Find more songs in the Christmas nursery rhymes and carols collection.
History and Meaning
The singer looks up at the stars, then down to a baby shivering in a cold cave. Putting those two pictures side by side is the heart of this Italian Christmas carol.
Who wrote the Italian carol?
Alfonso Maria de' Liguori wrote it in the eighteenth century. The first two verses above follow the text held by Italy's Central Institute for Catalogue and Documentation. Grotta means “cave” and pargoletto is an affectionate word for a little child. Italian national catalogue text.
How do you sing the title?
Try too SHEN-dee DAHL-leh STEL-leh. Hold the doubled l a touch longer in dalle and stelle. Start with the first two lines and listen for how the tune brings cielo and gelo together.
Lyrics from nurseryrhymes.info