Carols: 1 O Come O Come Emmanuel
Today is the first Sunday in Advent, where we begin the season of preparing our hearts to celebrate the Incarnation of Christ.
Singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel is my favourite way of beginning this sacred season. Shivers and excitement run through me, in equal measure upon hearing the first lines.
I am in anticipation of, not just presents and parties, but the opportunity for all my senses to participate in the worship of the Christ-Child.
The carol was originally written in the 12th Century. And came into its final English form in the 19th Century. The lyrics ask Jesus to come and free His spiritual Israel, the Church. The refrain reminds the carollers that they should ‘Rejoice’ as Christ is coming.
It is a song of longing, which is reflected by the minor key.
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
(link to a version sung by the choir of Ely Cathedral on YouTube)