In Dulci Jubilo
St. Andrew's Select Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
now sing with hearts aglow
Our delight and pleasure
lies in praesepio
Like sunshine is our treasure
Matris in gremio
Alpha est et O
Alpha est et O
for Thee I long alway
Comfort my hearts blindness
O puer optime
With all thy loving kindness
O Princeps gloriae
Trahe me post te
Trahe me post te
O Patris caritas
O nati lenitas
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina
But Thou for us has gained
Caelorum gaudia
That we were there
O that we were there
Ubi sunt gaudia
In any place but there
There are angels singing
In Nova Cantica
And there the bells are ringing
In regis curia
O that we were there
O that we were there
O that we were there
The lyrics to St. Andrew's Select Choir's song In Dulci Jubilo describe the joy and delight felt in the presence of the infant Jesus. The first stanza talks about how the singers' pleasure comes from being near the manger where the baby lies, and how their joy is like sunshine. The second stanza expresses the singer's longing for Jesus and asks him to comfort their heart's blindness with his loving kindness. The third stanza describes the difference between their sinful nature and Jesus, who has gained heaven for them, and ends with a wish to be there. The final stanza acknowledges the angels and bells in heaven, expressing a desire to be there to witness it all.
The lyrics include some Latin phrases, such as "praesepio," which means manger, and "ubi sunt gaudia," which means "where is joy?" This use of Latin serves to connect the piece to religious traditions and to give the song an air of timelessness. The song is also notable for featuring a mix of voices - male and female singers alternate verses, giving the song a rich, full sound.
Line by Line Meaning
In dulci jubilo
In sweet rejoicing
now sing with hearts aglow
Sing with glowing hearts
Our delight and pleasure
Our joy and pleasure
lies in praesepio
Is found in the manger
Like sunshine is our treasure
Our treasure is like sunshine
Matris in gremio
In the mother's lap
Alpha est et O
Alpha and Omega
O Jesu parvule
O little Jesus
for Thee I long alway
I always long for You
Comfort my hearts blindness
Comfort my blindness of heart
O puer optime
O best of boys
With all thy loving kindness
With all your loving kindness
O Princeps gloriae
O Prince of glory
Trahe me post te
Draw me after You
O Patris caritas
O love of the Father
O nati lenitas
O gentleness of the Son
Deeply were we stained
We were deeply stained
Per nostra crimina
Because of our sins
But Thou for us has gained
But You have won for us
Caelorum gaudia
The joys of heaven
That we were there
Would that we were there
O that we were there
Oh, how we wish we were there
Ubi sunt gaudia
Where are joys
In any place but there
In any place else but there
There are angels singing
Angels sing there
In Nova Cantica
In new songs
And there the bells are ringing
And there the bells ring
In regis curia
In the court of the King
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind