She is known for her major 1968 hit Harper Valley PTA that made her the first ever female singer to have a song reach #1 on both the country and pop music charts. The record quickly became one of the most legendary country music songs of all time. Written by Tom T. Hall, the song was released on the Plantation Records label. At the time, the lyrics were seen as risqué with "attitude" and the attractive Riley was marketed as a sex symbol dressed in an evocative tight mini-skirt and leather Go-Go boots.
She became a much talked about overnight sensation, and the song earned her the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and the Country Music Association Single of the Year award. The song itself was a phenomenon that led to a 1978 motion picture and the 1981 Harper Valley PTA television show. Riley made country music history in 1969 as the first female vocalist to have her own major network variety special.
During the late 1960s, and well into the 1970s, Riley ranked among the most popular female vocalists in the country music industry with five Grammy nominations and four Country Music Association nominations. Her other major country hits include "The Girl Most Likely" (1968), "Country Girl" (1970), "Oh, Singer" (1971), "Good Enough to Be Your Wife" (1971), and "Give Myself a Party" (1972). Riley recorded for MGM Records from 1972 to 1975 and later for Warner Bros. Records and MCA Records.
Her beauty and popularity brought a number of offers from Hollywood and she appeared with Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Bette Davis, Tom Jones, Ed Sullivan, and others on various television programs.
In the 1970s, she became a born again Christian and began recording gospel music with some frequency. However, her life has been plagued by bouts of severe depression that at one point left her bed-ridden for six years.
Jeannie C. Riley wrote an autobiography, From Harper Valley to the Mountain Top that was published in 1980 and brought her much renewed attention. She contined to tour and record through to the 1990s.
Joy To The World
Jeannie C. Riley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
While fields and rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
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
The song Joy to the World by Jeannie C. Riley is a hymn that celebrates the coming of the Lord as the king of the earth. The lyrics encourage the earth to receive its new king and to prepare a place in their hearts for Him. The song praises the Lord and encourages people to sing of His wonders and righteousness. The first verse also highlights the joyous nature of this event, suggesting that all of heaven and nature will join in singing to celebrate the arrival of the Lord.
The second verse describes the Savior's reign and encourages people to employ their songs to celebrate this new era. The chorus repeats the idea of the sounding joy, implying that this is a time of great celebration and exultation for all. The third verse emphasizes the Lord's ability to rule the world with truth and grace, and how He makes the nations prove the wonders of His love and the glories of His righteousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let everyone be happy and joyful as the Lord has arrived
Let earth receive her King
Let the world welcome its king with open arms
Let every heart prepare Him room
Prepare your heart for the arrival of the king
And Heaven and nature sing
Even the heavens and nature celebrate the arrival of the king
And Heaven and nature sing
Even the heavens and nature celebrate the arrival of the king
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing
The heavens and nature are singing in unison to celebrate the king's arrival
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let everyone be happy and joyful as the Savior has begun to rule
Let men their songs employ
Everyone should sing their praises for the new savior
While fields and rocks, hills and plains
Even the fields, rocks, hills, and plains should sing in celebration
Repeat the sounding joy
Keep singing with joy and happiness
Repeat the sounding joy
Keep singing with joy and happiness
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
Keep singing with joy and happiness
He rules the world with truth and grace
The king rules with fairness and kindness
And makes the nations prove
The nations are given the chance to experience and testify to the king's magnificence
The glories of His righteousness
Everyone is witness to the king's amazing justice
And wonders of His love
Everyone is amazed by the king's love and compassion
And wonders of His love
Everyone is amazed by the king's love and compassion
And wonders, wonders, of His love
The king's love and compassion are truly wondrous
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lowell Mason, Roger Wilcock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Jurkewicz
🎅🎄🎄 🎅 Merry Christmas 🎅🎄🎄🎅