#they're not singing the “caro eletto pargoletto” and “quanto questa povertà” lines in this version for some reason

[sciogli-lingua]

Italian Christmas Carols || Tu scendi dalle stelle || Italian lyrics + English translation

"Tu scendi dalle stelle" is probably the best-known Italian Christmas song. Firmly rooted in the catholic tradition (as is clear from the lyrics), its music and words were written in the mid-18th century by Alfonso Maria de' Liguori, an Italian bishop, later canonized, who based it on another, Neapolitan carol which he also wrote, Quanno nascette Ninno. In its original form, the carol was longer, but nowadays it's mostly been reduced to the first two verses:

Tu scendi dalle stelle, o Re del cielo, Descended from the stars, o King of Heaven, E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo, You come to a cave in the freezing cold, E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo You come to a cave in the freezing cold

O Bambino mio divino, O my holy Child, Io ti vedo qui a tremar; I see You trembling here O Dio beato! O blessed God! Ah, quanto ti costò l'avermi amato! Ah, loving me cost You so much! Ah, quanto ti costò l'avermi amato! Ah, loving me cost You so much!

A te, che sei del mondo il Creatore, You, who are the Maker of our world, Mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore, Are without clothes and fire, o my Lord, Mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore Are without clothes and fire, o my Lord

Caro eletto pargoletto, My dear darling chosen child, Quanto questa povertà This poverty makes me Più m'innamora, Love You all the more, Giacché Ti fece amor povero ancora, For it is love that made You poor, Giacché Ti fece amor povero ancora For it is love that made You poor