“Edelweiss” is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music. Named for a small white flower found in the Alps, the song was created for the character Captain Georg von Trapp. He sings this song to show his love for Austria, his home, as he faces the pressure to join the Nazi German navy after Germany annexes his homeland.
Below is an interpretation of the lyrics in “Edelweiss.”
- Song: Edelweiss
- Songwriters: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
- Released: 1959
- Album: The Sound of Music
- Genre: Show tune
“Edelweiss” Meaning: Line by Line
Greeting the Flower
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
The song opens with Captain von Trapp addressing the edelweiss flower, a small, white blossom that grows in the high mountains of Austria. This is a morning greeting, a simple act of acknowledging the beauty of nature and the start of a new day.
This gesture of saying hello to a flower suggests a personal connection to the natural world and the country itself, as if the flower is a friend. It establishes a sense of peace and an everyday routine that is about to be shattered.
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
The choice of words used to describe the flower implies it represents innocence and purity, qualities von Trapp associates with his homeland before it came under Nazi control.
Saying the flower looks “happy” to see him gives the scene a gentle, almost parental feeling, reinforcing his bond with the Austria he remembers.
A Wish for Growth and Continuity
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
The flower is called a “blossom of snow” to highlight its white color and also to suggest its ability to endure in harsh, cold conditions, just like the people of Austria must endure their new political reality.
This wish for it to “bloom and grow forever” is a wish for both the plant and the country. He wants Austria to stay strong, grow, and live on in a state of freedom and purity.
He’s saying that his homeland will not be lost, even if it is taken over.
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
von Trapp addresses the flower again, but this time, he asks it to bless Austria. This is a prayer for his country, asking for its protection and for its spirit to remain.
In the film, this final part of the song becomes a shared act of defiance when the family sings it to the Salzburg audience, prompting them to join in despite the presence of German soldiers.
“Edelweiss” Song Meaning: A Prayer for Austria
“Edelweiss” is a metaphor for Captain von Trapp’s love for Austria. The small, white edelweiss flower, which is a national symbol of the country, represents everything he loves about his home. The words he sings are a prayer for Austria to remain a beautiful and free country.
He makes a risky statement by singing these words in front of the Nazi soldiers in the film. He is saying that even though Austria has been taken over by Germany, the country’s true spirit and identity will not be forgotten. The wish for the flower to “bloom and grow forever” is his wish for Austria itself to live on in the hearts of its people.
“Edelweiss” is also a farewell. He knows that he must leave Austria to protect his family and his beliefs. The song is his last public goodbye to the country he loves. It’s also his way of reassuring himself that the memory of a free Austria will always remain, even if he must leave it behind.
Songs Like “Edelweiss”
Here are some other songs with similar themes:
1. “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
“This Land Is Your Land” is about the love for a country and its vast, natural beauty. It’s a journey through America, celebrating its mountains, valleys, and rivers.
Related: Campfire Songs Everyone Knows
2. “Caledonia” by Dougie MacLean
“Caledonia” is about a Scottish man’s longing for his homeland while he is away. He sings about the beauty and freedom of Scotland, wishing to return to the place he calls home.
3. “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2
“Where the Streets Have No Name” was inspired by the religious and economic divides in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where a person’s street could reveal their background. It is about a desire for a place free from these divisions, a universal hope for unity.
Conclusion: A Patriotic Farewell
“Edelweiss” uses a small flower as a symbol for a whole nation. By framing a political message in the form of a tender song about a flower, it allows Captain von Trapp to speak his truth without confrontation. The main message of the song is that even in the face of great loss, the things we love most can continue to exist in our hearts.
You can listen to “Edelweiss” on Spotify and Amazon.
Find “Edelweiss” and more great tunes on the Best Songs About Flowers list!
