One two three four

O come, o come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice

O come, Thou day spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice

O come, o come, Thou Lord of mights
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didn't give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe

Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice

Overall Meaning

In Sufjan Stevens's rendition of "O Come O Come Emmanuel," the lyrics are based on the traditional Advent hymn, which dates back to the 8th century. The song's main focus is the anticipation of the coming of the Messiah. The first verse begins with an invocation of Emmanuel, the name given to Christ, which means "God with us." The singer asks Emmanuel to come and to redeem Israel, which he describes as being captive in exile and mourning in solitude. The verse ends by proclaiming the great hope of the coming of the Son of God, which will eradicate Israel's lamentation and fill them with joy.

The second verse of the song implores the coming of the "Day-spring" to cheer the people in their sadness. Like the first verse, it recognizes the dark and gloomy nature of the present time and hopes for a brighter future. The singer calls on Emmanuel to scatter the darkness and cut through the gloomy clouds of night to make way for the light of the new day. The third verse calls for the Lord of Might, the God who gave the law to Moses on Sinai amidst thunder, lightning, and darkness. As with the previous verses, the singer looks forward to a time of rejoicing that will come with God's arrival.

Overall, the song is a powerful contemplation of the significance of the Advent season and the anticipation that comes with it. The yearning that is expressed in this hymn shows the gravity of the wait for the messiah and the depth of Israel's longing. Because of its timeless message and its status as a beloved Christmas hymn, "O Come O Come Emmanuel" continues to be an integral part of holiday celebrations to this day.

Line by Line Meaning

O come o come Emmanuel
The singer is calling for Emmanuel, or Jesus, to come to them.

And ransom captive Israel
The singer is asking Jesus to save the people of Israel who are held captive, possibly referring to the Babylonian captivity or sin.

That mourns in lonely exile here
Israel is in mourning while exiled and separated from God.

Until the Son of God appears
Israel is waiting for the arrival of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

O come, Thou day spring, come and cheer
The artist is asking for Jesus to come and bring happiness and light into their lives.

Our spirits by Thine advent here
The singer is hoping that Jesus's arrival will lift their spirits.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
The singer is asking for Jesus to bring light and dispel the darkness.

And death's dark shadows put to flight
The artist is asking for Jesus to conquer death and bring hope to the people.

O come, Thou Lord of mights
The artist acknowledges Jesus as the Lord of all power and strength.

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
The artist is referencing the time when God gave Moses the commandments on Mount Sinai and acknowledging Jesus as God's chosen one.

In ancient times didn't give the law
The singer is referring to the fact that when God gave Moses the commandments, it was a monumental moment in history and acknowledging Jesus's significance in comparison.

In cloud and majesty and awe
The artist is describing the scene of when the commandments were given on Mount Sinai, using it to illustrate the greatness of Jesus.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it