Joy To The World
Year: 1719
Written By: Isaac Watts
Joy
to the world the Lord has come, the words that fill the hearts of
Christians and others around the world with joy during the
Christmas holidays. This song explains all that is Christmas. It
tells of the birth of the baby Jesus and the reason for the season.
Not the commercialism that is so associated with the holiday today,
the true reason that Christ was born to save us all from our
sins.
Isaac Watts had this very thing in mind when he wrote
the hymn in 1719 after a request from his father, the pastor of
their church, to give the congregation something new to sing. Watts
was 18 when he wrote the song and it was published in his book The
psalms of David, imitated in the language of the New Testament and
applied to the Christian state and worship. The song glorifies
Christ triumphant return.
The
Christmas carol's music was possibly adapted from Handel's Messiah
and arranged by composer Lowell Mason to the tune Antioch. Watts
has been called the father of English Hymnody and based the song on
the 98th psalms in the new testament of the
bible.
Joy
to the world was the most published hymn in North America as late
as the 20th century. And it is no wonder since everyone
loves to listen to it during the Christmas holidays. It is belted
out from TV's, radios and churches and synagogues across the
world.
Many
different artists have sung Joy to the World over the years. Some
of the most popular are an instrumental version by conductor Percy
Faith in 1954, the European group Bonnie M. in 1984, The legendary
Supremes in 1965 and Andy Williams in 1974. He recorded it in a
medium to slow ballad like style. In 1994, Mariah Carey recorded
the song in a dance-pop style. Whitney Houston recorded it in 1996
and then again in 2003. The last person to record it was country
star Clay Aiken in 2004.
While there are many religions in the world and many
different beliefs, everyone seems to put aside their differences at
Christmas and try to get along. I think the song Joy to the World
goes a long way towards making that happen. No matter which
rendition of the song you choose to listen to from the original to
the pop-rock version you can be assured that Joy to the World will
be gladdening hearts all across the world come Christmas
time.
Lyrics
Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Joy To The World Christmas Videos (Click to Play)
Rate Different Artist Versions of Joy To The World
| Artist Name | Current Rating | Your Rating | Preview |
|---|
| Aaron Neville | | | |
| Aly and Aj | | | |
| Amy Grant | | | |
| Andy Williams | | | |
| Anne Murray | | | |
| Bing Crosby | | | |
| Bob Rivers | | | |
| Boney M | | | |
| Brenda Lee | | | |
| Casting Crowns | | | |
| Charlotte Church | | | |
| Clay Aiken | | | |
| David Archuleta | | | |
| Dolly Parton | | | |
| Ella Fitzgerald | | | |
| Faith Hill | | | |
| Fernando Ortega | | | |
| George Strait | | | |
| Jewel | | | |
| Jim Nabors | | | |
| Johnny Cash | | | |
| Johnny Mathis | | | |
| Julie Andrews | | | |
| Kenny G | | | |
| Kenny Rogers | | | |
| Mahalia Jackson | | | |
| Mariah Carey | | | |
| Michael Bolton | | | |
| Michael W Smith | | | |
| Nat King Cole | | | |
| Natalie Cole | | | |
| Neil Diamond | | | |
| Oak Ridge Boys | | | |
| Perry Como | | | |
| Randy Travis | | | |
| Ray Conniff | | | |
| Rosemary Clooney | | | |
| Sufjan Stevens | | | |
| The Ventures | | | |
| Third Day | | | |
| Toby Keith | | | |
| Vanessa Williams | | | |
| Whitney Houston | | | |
| Willie Nelson | | | |
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