Joy (To The World)

The carol's familiar opening is repeated three times, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come," but Avalon's version adds verses of its own about wonder. "Come and remember the manger and promise that is born today, won't you look in the eyes of a baby boy, I wonder why the Lord of creation would come to me in such a way?" Luke 2:11 and Matthew 1:23 stand behind the scene.

The chorus sets a refrain that lets the congregation answer, "Joy, let your heart prepare Him room, joy, we receive our King, in heaven and nature sing." A new verse speaks to the busy season: "stop in the hurry of Christmas and listen for the angel's call, stand in the quiet and hear His voice, oh, with your heart hold on to Jesus."

The final lines return to the older carol text, "He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love," which comes from Psalm 98:9. The hope the song names, "the hope He brought is living on, and the song that warmed the winter night still changes lives," frames it as more than a seasonal tradition.