mgpcpastor's blog

Joy, Joy is a new/old Christmas themed song from Isaac Wardell.
Wardell’s lyrics cleverly takes us from the manger in the first two verses to the first chapter of John’s gospel in the third, and then ties the themes of the first three verses in a fourth which reflects on Jesus’ later sacrifice.
The melody, based loosely on 17th century French tune “Entre Le Boeuf Et Lane Gris” gives the song a timeless feel, much older than its age, fresh and yet familiar.
The lyrics:
Verse 1
Under the babyʼs head she held
Love, love, sing Emmanuel
Lending at His birth, peace on all the earth
See His mother Mary weeping Love, love, love.
Verse 2
Over the shepherds, angels tell
Joy, Joy, called Emmanuel
Born in Bethlehem, good will unto men
Bend before His cradle singing Joy, joy, joy.
Verse 3
Down from the throne of Heavʼn He fell
Light, light became Emmanuel
Covered in our flesh, swaddled in our dress
Wise men see His coming chasing light, light, light
4
Onto the ground His blood He spilled
Peace! Peace! Cried Emmanuel
Sinners dark and vile, God to reconcile
Spilling love and joy and light and peace, peace, peace.

Written by Isaac Wardell,
© 2009 New Jerusalem Music

I’ve embedded two versions of the song, the first is from Wardell’s original recording on the Bifrost Arts album Salvation Is Created.

The second is from Sojourn’s 2011 Christmas album, A Child Is Born.

Sadly the Bifrost Arts tracks are a pain to buy from bandcamp, as they’re only available singly, and don’t under any circumstances buy the very expensive single tracks which include scores.
If you want their albums go to iTunes.