I do know that is going to sound crazy, but “Joy to the World” has never quite worked for me as a Christmas song. Don’t get me fallacious, it’s a effective, completely satisfied song. It has cool harmonies to sing. And on Christmas, we’ve got plenty to rejoice. It’s just, most Christmas carols have a tale to inform. Possibly it’s a few snowman, perhaps it’s a few drummer boy, but as we hearken to the verses we’re taken on some type of a journey.
“Joy to the World” is just about the alternative of that. It will not be a story; it’s the song that happens when the story is over. And it just keeps saying the identical thing in other ways—Jesus has come, he’s the Savior, he rules the world. I get it, I find it irresistible, but does anyone else find it to be a bit bit monotonous?
Certainly one of the things that almost all surprised me when listening to Maggi Van Dorn and Ricardo da Silva talk with experts concerning the song this week on America Media’s “Hark!” podcast was discovering that the song “Joy to the World” actually draws its inspiration not from Christ’s birth but his coming at the top of time. Which makes so way more sense. “Joy to the World” is a culmination song: Jesus has been faithful to us, regardless of what we threw at him. He has loved us to the top. And now he’s come back for us.
But that will not be really what we rejoice nowadays. Christmas will not be about an ending; it’s about beginnings. We’re on page one here, or perhaps the beginning of chapter two.
I realize this all sounds very Grinchy. (Wait until you get home and see what I did with all of your Christmas lights.) I’m all for a giant song of hurray and likewise hope for that long-promised day.
But at Christmas, I’d reasonably you tell me about silent nights, sing to me of midnights clear. Heck, share with me about angels singing. Just don’t give us a song that sounds too very like “Mission Completed,” because looking around, it’s pretty clear it’s not. Something has began, something good, and we’re going to be an element of it. But what’s it exactly? Wait and see.
For way more about “Joy to the World” and other popular Christmas carols, take a look at “Hark!” America Media’s podcast concerning the origins and meaning of popular Christmas carols, with co-hosts Maggi Van Dorn and Ricardo da Silva. And on behalf of us all here at America, have a merry Christmas.
The Hark! team wants to listen to your voice! Which Christmas carols would you want for us to explore next yr? Tell us on this temporary listener survey.
Hearken to other episodes from this season of Hark!
