“Joy to the World!” is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Who couldn’t be inspired by those hopeful peppy cheerful lines? According to the book “Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” written by Ace Collins, the song came to us via two men who’s lives were separated by time and space.
Isaac Watts (July 17, 1674) is famous for bringing change to the songs used during worship services. He wanted worship music to be more meaningful to every day folks like you and me. Watts has been credited with writing hundreds of songs as well as inspiring other hymn writers like Charles Wesley and John Newton.
After studying Psalms 98 Watts penned a poem titled “Joy to the World.” Over forty years later Lowell Mason came up with the energetic tune so many of us are familiar with, he named the tune “Antioch.” It was another few years before Mason put the words Watts had written with his tune.
The book, “Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas” points out another interesting tidbit about the song. Although “Joy to the World!” is set firmly in the midst of our Christmas Carols it really isn’t a song about Christmas. Neither Watts nor Mason thought of the words or tune as pertaining to the Christmas season.
“In 1911, Elise Stevenson, who had scored huge chart success during the early days of records with “Shine on, Harvest Moon” and “Are You Sincere?” joined Trinity Choir for a Christmas release of “Joy to the World!” The Victor Records single climbed to number five on the charts and marked the first time that either Watts’s or Mason’s music had appeared on popular, contemporary music playlists (though “Joy to the World!” would later inspire a rock music hit for a group called “Three Dog Night”).
It remains a mystery how this hymn became known as a Christmas carol. Inspired by Old Testament Scripture-with no words alluding to the birth of Jesus other than the phrase, “the Lord is come” – “Joy to the World!” would seem to be a song for all seasons, something to be sung in July as much as December. Nevertheless, for some reason Americans embraced “Joy to the World!” as a holiday standard. Perhaps because of its jubilant spirit, it just “felt” like a Christmas song!”
A year or so after Pap died Paul found a video of us playing “Joy to the World!” The video is sort of dark, that’s probably why we never uploaded it after filming. Now that Pap’s gone the lack of light in the video don’t seem so bad after all.
I hope you enjoyed the video of “Joy to the World!”on this Christmas Eve. It’s one of the tracks on Pap and Paul’s “Songs of Christmas” cd. If you’d like to pick up a copy go here.
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Seasons Greetings to you Tipper, Matt, the girls, Paul and Granny. I just watched Paul and Granny singing, it was beautiful. what a strong woman Granny is. prayers still go out to her. May you and yours have a safe, happy, healthy and peaceful 2024. Keep up the blogging, I love watching you all.
Tipper- I just watched the video you posted on you tube of Paul and Granny singing Silent Night. I have to say, it brought tears to my eyes. It was such a blessing to see your Mama singing a Christmas carol for all of us to see and hear. She is just precious! What a Christmas gift to all of us!
Merry Christmas! Joy to the World is a beautiful song. Your dad and brother played and sang it wonderfully. There’s is such a talent.
What a beautiful song for this Christmas Eve. Your Pap and Paul did very well in the video. I loved it.
Have a Merry Christmas. Many Blessings to your family. God Bless.
I ordered the CD Songs of Christmas and received it a few days ago. I am enjoying it so much. It is just beautiful. Merry Christmas, Tipper, Matt, Corey, Austin, Katie and Granny and all your entended family.
Merry Christmas to all of you!!
JOY TO THE WORLD! Our Savior is coming!!! 🙂
So Beautiful & Joyful !!! What a great way to begin this beautiful Christmas Eve morning!!! Thank you as always !!! A heartfelt Merry Christmas to you & this wonderful group of kindred spirits !!!
Thanks for sharing Joy to the World in this Christmas season. Your posts are very uplifting and bring joy to the World everyday. Merry Christmas Eve to everyone.
Morning, Tipper! I really enjoyed the video, and the song has been a favorite of mine because it’s so joyful! I have also really enjoyed the old time Christmas cards you’ve been showing the past several days. It reminds me of the older, simpler days. I wish you and your family and all those who follow you the very merriest and happiest Christmas! God’s blessings on you all!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY..
Many blessings for you and your family and merry Christmas !
Thank you, Tipper, for sharing this beautiful song this Christmas Eve morning. Pap and Paul sang it beautifully. Having the cd is a blessing but getting to watch the video of them singing makes it even more special. Have a blessed Christmas Eve Sunday everyone!!!
Luke 2:10 KJV – “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you ‘good tidings of great joy’, which shall be to all people.”
Luke is the most commonly book of the Bible read during Christmas celebrations. Perhaps Mr. Watts had an eye toward that verse when he penned the words to that enduring song of the birth of the Christ.
“Neither Watts nor Mason thought of the words or tune as pertaining to the Christmas season.” My question is, how does Mr. Collins know the thoughts of a man who died 200 years before he was born?
Of course the song “Joy To The World” shouldn’t be sung only at Christmas. The thoughts brought forth by its message should be present in us every moment of every day.
***Merry Christmas to You and all the inhabitants of Wilson Holler!***
Tipper, Thanks for sharing that very old Christmas song. As always, any music by your Pap and your brother Paul is total enjoyable. The picture Imay be a bit dim, but the spirit comes through brightly. It reminds me of the old days in the country, where our only light came from coal oil lamps. We didn’t turn them up very hight…to avoid excessive use of the oil and to preclude the wicks burning up too fast. Mery Christmas and God’s sweetest blessings on our home and your outstanding family.
“ Joy to the World” was one of the first Christmas carols I learned to play on the piano. I had an old 1930s carols book that belonged to my aunt, and I just loved it since it had all my favorites and some I’d never heard. Each song had a beautiful illustration to go with it. I still have that old carols book, its crumbling pages encased in page savers, and I just might have to spend some time this afternoon playing through it. Wishing everyone a lovely Christmas Eve. I’m going to Christmas Eve mass in a park by the bay with a Catholic friend, always a beautiful setting for a beautiful service.
A joyful, blessed Christmas Eve Day and Christmas to all! Enjoyed “Joy to the World”, what a joy to have the recordings of your Dad!
JOH16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Wishing a blessed Christmas to each and all of the BP&A folks far and near.
Lovely song and singing. I like the way your Father and Paul injected their style of guitar playing for this tune.
Merry Christmas to all! Take care and God bless ❣️
I listened to it yesterday on the Songs of Christmas cd. It has become my favorite Christmas cd.
I love that wonderful old song! Joy to the world indeed, Jesus has come and is coming again. Merry Christmas to all.
Happy Christmas Tipper to you and your lovely family.
I too love this song, it always uplifts me.
Merry Christmas to all.
You are so blessed to have recordings of Pap.
I guess I wrote something in my earlier comment that Tipper thought shouldn’t be posted. It was about me feeling like some Christmas Carols were being used in a disrespectful way. I never thought of “Joy To The World” not being a Christmas Carol. Many times it would be sung at my church as the closing song in some of the church Christmas plays.
Today on Jim Casada’s Sporting Classics Daily website there is a Christmas story I love to read and have read many times before. The title of the story is The Christmas Rifle.
It is my hope and pray that today and tomorrow will be happy, joyful days for everyone. I hope many of you can spend them with your family and loved ones. The BP&A and the members are a happy, bright spot in my life. I think of the members being my “online” family.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone!
Loved the song. How blessed you are to have these recordings. Paul and Pap’s voices blend so well and Paul’s playing skill are just wonderful. I would be interested in what Paul will be doing now that he has. retired from the school system. He has such a great voice.
The song and singing was beautiful this morning. Thank you, Tipper, for all of the lovely readings, and BP&A posts, and videos by you and your family. You have filled this season with so much joy for all of us. I truly appreciate you. I hope you, your entire family, and everyone here has the merriest Christmas ever.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Joy to the world is a wonderful and peppy song! Anyway or anybody wants to perform this beautiful song should just go for it! The Bible says “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” and for some us it means just that! I find it interesting you know who, what, when, and why songs were written! I’m always enlightened and THANKYOU, “Grandma” Tipper! Your pap played and sang like an angel he did! Merry Christmas in heaven, everybody! We will be along soon!!! Gonna bake a PIG PICKN cake, devil some eggs, raise some yeast rolls, and get taters peeled and soaking tonight.
Merry Christmas to all of and thank you for the joy and knowledge you spread by letting us into your lives.
“Ditto” to what everyone else has commented and said so well : )
Merry Christmas to the Blind Pig and the Acorn Gang and everyone here!
Happy Christmas Eve Sunday! What a glorious way to start the day, praising our Lord with singing Joy to the World with Pap and Paul. May God’s peace, joy and love be with you all today and everyday! Merry Christmas!
I wish you all a very blessed and Merry Christmas! You bring such encouragement to many including myself with each video, no matter who is posting. The twins, Paul with music, with Matt outdoors, and you with Celebrating Appalachia, with your readings, with all you do. God bless you and yours❤❤
We love Joy to the World. I’ve been told that it’s actually referring to the second coming of Christ and the lyrics certainly seem to mean that. But I’ll sing it anytime! Merry Christmas to your family.
Merry Christmas to all the Wilson and Pressley families! May the Lord richly bless all y’all just as you have blessed us! Our lives are all better because you’re in it!!
All glory to God and peace on earth!
I would like to wish everyone at Blind Pig and the Acorn a meaningful and a wonderful Merry Christmas! You make our lives richer, and we feel closer to our Appalachian roots, no matter where we are.
Bless you all,
Joe Morgan
God bless you and your family, God bless me and my family, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas all, and much love. Joy to the world, in Jesus name.
I have to admit I like all the versions of Joy to the World. 3 Dog Night sang one of my favorite. not that it is a Christmas Carol but it has a great message too and a happy song.
loved the video, I have always enjoyed Pap and Paul singing together.
Wonderful to wake and start the day with a beautiful song.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
Blessings to all
Absolutely beautiful music!!! I know you treasure this clip of Pap and Paul!!!!!