Christmas Carol: Joy to the World
Les racines de ce chant de Christmas d’origine chrétienne, Joy to the World, remontent aussi loin qu’en 1719. Isaac Watts en est l’auteur, et pour en écrire les paroles, il s’est inspiré d’un hymne anglais, puisé à même le Psaume 98 de la Bible. Toutefois, si l’on retourne à cette époque fort lointaine, les cantiques de Noël n’existaient pas en tant que tel, et au moment de sa publication, Joy to the World se voulait plutôt un hymne destiné à rendre hommage au retour du Christ. D’ailleurs, en se référant aux paroles contenues originalement dans la song, on constate que seule la seconde partie a été conservée dans la version actuelle.
As for the melody accompanying the lyrics, adapted in 1839, it comes from a very old tune, of which only a segment is attributed to the composer Handel. However, no trace can be found of this other author who would have completed Handel's work. In short, it was not until the end of the 20th century that Joy to the World finally became the Christmas carol that everyone hums today. It was also during this period that this hymn spread throughout North America, and then moved to other continents.
Among the most famous artists to have recorded Joy to the World are Andy Williams, Maria Carey, Whitney Houston, Boney M., The Supremes, Perry Como, Anne Murray, Alabama, Michael Bolton, as well as an instrumental version recorded by Percy Faith and his orchestra.
Lyrics of the current version
Joy to the world! The Lord has come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men employ their songs;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
North thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
