In Dulci Jubilo
Luca Genta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With heart and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born to-day;
Ox and ass before him bow,
And he is in the manger now.
Christ is born to-day!
Christ is born to-day!
Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath oped the heavenly door,
And man is blessed evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice,
With heart and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
Luca Genta’s song, In Dulci Jubilo, is a beautiful and classic Christmas hymn that calls out to Christians everywhere to rejoice with heart, soul, and voice. The first verse, “Good Christian Men, Rejoice,” reminds us that Jesus Christ is born today, and the ox and the ass bow before him in the manger. The second verse confirms that Christ was born for this - to open the door to heaven so that we can all be blessed evermore. The final verse encourages us to remember that Christ was born to save us all from fear of the grave, and to gain his everlasting hall.
Initially written in medieval Latin, In Dulci Jubilo, also known as Good Christian Men, Rejoice, is one of the oldest and most widely known traditional Christmas carols that has stood the test of time. The carol's lyrics, which inspire cheer and joy among Christians, have been translated into several languages, and the tune has been used in many popular Christmas songs. Interestingly, the song's title is from the Latin phrase In Dulci Jubilo which means "in sweet rejoicing", and it is thought to have originated from a German-Latin songbook compiled in the early 14th century. The tune of the song was meant to be sung in a circle, where the call and response style was accompanied by an exchange of gifts, thereby bringing all together in the Christmas festivities.
The hymn has had several adaptations throughout the years, with modern covers by artists like Mike Oldfield, The Cambridge Singers, and The Bach Choir. The song has been frequently used in movies, TV shows, and commercials, cementing its position as a classic Christmas carol that stands the test of time. It's not hard to see why In Dulci Jubilo is a perennial favorite during the Christmas holidays - the song's message of hope, endless bliss, salvation, and joy is one that resonates with Christians all over the world.
Chords: G, D, C, F, Am, G7
Line by Line Meaning
Good Christian men, rejoice,
Oh, Christians, unleash your happiness,
With heart and soul, and voice;
With all of your being and with a voice that matches,
Give ye heed to what we say:
Listen intently to what we proclaim:
Jesus Christ is born to-day;
Today marks the birth of the savior, Jesus Christ
Ox and ass before him bow,
Even the animals, the ox and ass, kneel before him,
And he is in the manger now.
He lies in a manger, humble as can be.
Christ is born to-day!
This is the day that Christ was born!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Listen closely now, for joyous news is what you will hear:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
The birth of Jesus Christ is what caused this endles bliss!
He hath oped the heavenly door,
He has unlocked the door to heaven,
And man is blessed evermore.
And as a result, man is blessed for eternity.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born specifically for this purpose!
Now ye need not fear the grave:
No longer do you need to be afraid of death,
Jesus Christ was born to save!
For He was born to save each and every one of us.
Calls you one and calls you all
He calls out to each and every one of us,
To gain his everlasting hall.
To come and be with him in his hall of eternity.
Christ was born to save!
For Christ was born for the sole purpose of saving us.
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.