Joy To The World
Rutter; Cambridge Singers; London Sinfonia Lyrics

"Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol that was written by Isaac Watts in 1719. It is based on Psalm 98 and celebrates the coming of the Messiah. The song starts with the proclamation of the Lord's arrival on earth and urges everyone to prepare room for Him. The chorus echoes the angels' announcement of His arrival and heaven and nature join in the celebration. The second verse talks about how the Savior reigns and encourages all to sing songs of praise. The third verse expresses the hope that the Savior's blessings will flow to all corners of the world and remove sin and sorrow. The final verse declares that the Lord rules with truth and grace and that His love and righteousness are wondrous.

The song has become a staple of Christmas celebrations and has been recorded by several artists. It is typically sung in a joyful and upbeat tone and is popular in churches and other faith-based institutions. The carol has been interpreted in various ways, ranging from a simple celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ to a call for social justice and unity.

The song was originally written to be sung as a hymn and was not specifically intended to be a Christmas carol. It was not until the mid-19th century that "Joy to the World" began to be associated with Christmas.

The melody of "Joy to the World" is taken from a piece of music called "Antioch," which was composed by George Frideric Handel for his oratorio "Messiah." Handel's "Messiah" tells the story of the life of Jesus Christ, and "Joy to the World" is believed to have been inspired by the chorus "And The Glory Of The Lord" from that work.

"Joy to the World" has been covered by a multitude of artists across various genres, including Bing Crosby, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Three Dog Night.

The song has been translated into many languages, including French, Spanish, and German, among others.

"Joy to the World" was played by astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission as they orbited the moon on Christmas Eve in 1968, making it the first song to be broadcast from space.

The carol was originally published with the title "The Messiah's Coming Kingdom" and had a different melody.

The song's simple melody and upbeat lyrics have made it a popular choice for many people to learn on the piano.

The version of "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971.

The carol is often played during the holiday season by brass bands, and the arrangement by the famous American conductor Arthur Harris has become particularly renowned.

Chords:
Verse 1:
D
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
A
Let earth receive her King
D
Let every heart prepare Him room
A/D D
And heaven and nature sing, (and heaven, and heaven and nature sing)

Chorus:
G D
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
A7 D
Let men their songs employ
G D
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
A7 G D A7 D
Repeat the sounding joy, (repeat the sounding joy)

Verse 2:
D
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
A
Nor thorns infest the ground;
D
He comes to make His blessings flow
A/D D
Far as the curse is found, (far as the curse is found)

Chorus:
G D
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
A7 D
Let earth receive her King;
G D
Let every heart prepare Him room,
A7 G D A7 D
And heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n and nature sing,
A7 G D A7 D
And heav'n, and heaven and nature sing.