Carols: 3 Joy To The World

Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts in 1719. The music was attributed to Handel, but there is some argument over whether this is correct. It appears the tune may have been cobbled together from several lines from Messiah.

I can imagine this being sung by the angelic choir to the shepherds on the hill outside Bethlehem.

This is a great recording. You get a real sense of Handel coming through the arrangement.

So listen and enjoy.

Joy to the world! the Lord is 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 Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

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.