Another favorite Christmas video we’ve filmed over the years is “Joy to the World.” Who couldn’t be inspired and uplifted by the peppy tune and the hopeful lyrics.
We uploaded the video back in 2018 after Pap had died.
Over the years we filmed a lot of our Sunday evening pickin and grinnin sessions but were pretty picky about what we actually uploaded to YouTube.
Paul was going through some old dvds and found the video of the song. It’s sort of dark and it may not be perfect as far as the singing and playing goes but I just love it.
I love thinking about Paul, Pap, and me playing the song in anticipation of Christmas which was quickly approaching I’m sure.
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!”
“Joy to the World” has been part of every Christmas I’ve ever had so it’s hard for me to believe it was never meant to be a Christmas song.
I hope you enjoyed the video! There’s a great version of the song on our cd “Songs of Christmas.” If you’d like to pick up a copy of the cd go here.
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
It makes me sad that more of the traditional Christmas hymns & old Carols are not sung anymore. Often times at supposed ‘Christmas Concerts’ done by my girls’ school, there was not one Christmas song. They were either ‘winter’ songs, like Frosty the Snowman, or other holiday songs, like Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel. Now don’t get me wrong! I love for my kids to learn about other cultures & religions. As current homeschooling family, we do units on all that stuff & it is interesting to learn. But, we live a town that is predominantly Christian & I never could understand the aversion to actual Christmas songs AT Christmas time. I love O Come All Ye Faithful best, myself. Also love Good King Wenceslas, & God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. We actually have an event called Tuba Christmas in nearby city. It is an orchestra made up entirely of Tubas! And they only play traditional Christmas music. There is a narrator that tells facts about the different hymns. You wouldn’t believe a tuba orchestra could be any good until you hear Tuba Christmas & realize what a beautiful & moving instrument it can be. There is also a bell choir performed by our local deaf school that has sign language along with it. Also very beautiful to see the hymns signed out.
PS……oh how I loved the reading of the Christmas story you’re reading ……seriously what a talent you gave to make a story come to life!!!!! I was even in tears, thinking about my grand baby breaking his arm, and me having to set it, (not that I would ever not being strong enough to not set it!!!!). Thank you much for reading…….AND BRINGING A STORY TO LIFE!
I just heard a rendition of joy to the world and the singer saying the words “let earth receive THE King“…… I don’t think I will ever sing that song again, without singing it as “THE” king (instead of her king.) Nearly brought me to tears.
That is an amazing version of this song, and you are right: the version on the CD is great. I really enjoy listening to all of your family’s music. I love the history of the song, too.
I so enjoy hearing songs Pap and Paul sung together. Joy to the World is an old favorite Christmas song for me and they did it beautifully. Thank you for sharing them with us!
And much Joy, Peace and Happiness for Christmas and the new year to all the Tipper family!
In an online survey tuther day I chose Joy to the World as my favorite. Pap and Pap are my favorite singers of said song.
Jingle Bells ain’t no Christmas song either. Most folks here might wouldn’t be singing it at Christmas time if they knew the backstory.
Everytime I see a video of Paul and Pap playing together I’m so blown away by Paul’s musical knowledge and technical experience. Pap ain’t no slouch either! However, his clear tenor voice distracts me from his guitar playing – I could listen to that all day. Love it!
I would be interested to know how their song arrangements happened (maybe another video for Paul? Unless already discussed and you have a link you can provide). Were these passed down to Paul by his father and Pap, or did Paul and Pap sit down together to arrange their own chords and “runs” (thanks, Mr. Cassada!). How much work was it for them (2 mins; 2 hours; 2 weeks?), did they write down the specifics or is alot of it improvised on Paul’s part, any funny stories happen during the process? What happens when you and the girls and nephew (Ben?) join in? Do you each need to contribute, learn, or improvise your parts and are those written down and added to the original Pap/Paul arrangement?
No need to answer if its too complicated or if Paul shrugs his shoulders and says, “what’s to tell? The whole family is just a mass of musical geniuses!”
I love that song and thought it a Christmas song having enjoyed singing it in church. Pap and Paul always sound good to me. I did not know the history of the song and really enjoyed learning that too. I had to leave for church so didn’t have time to comment until I returned. I place a little like Christmas welcome flag by the entrance to the back porch and it says “and Heaven and Nature Sing!” And a little flag shows the Nativity scene. It’s hard to believe that “Joy to The World” wasn’t written for a Christmas song but I’m sure happy we have it!!
Beautiful.
Beautiful! Powerful words in that song and I find the history of it very interesting. Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday everyone!!
Love the tune/s. Please keep the videos & tunes coming. . . . What a memory you must have of seeing your dear departed Pap, your brother as well.
Take care, God bless you & your entire family & have a good day/night.
That’s just beautiful! I really enjoyed hearing it this morning just a few days before Christmas. I do consider it a Christmas Song. Do you suppose their voices come together so well because they are father and son?
It was Christmas 1945, when I first heard that song. It was sung by a group of teachers in my First Grade. I loved it then, and I love it now. The Blind Pig gang does it real justice and provides a lot of joy to others.
Merry Christmas to all and to All the Joy that only Jesus can bring!
I did not know of this wonderfully upbeat and inspiring song’s history.Thank you for enlightenment. I think Pap and Paul did a great job on this great hymn. Not much to add except I’m wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! For whatever reason, I’m feeling pretty good this Christmas season so I’m thankful! Is it just me or does the air seem to be changing for the good?
Beautifully done! I so love this song and the way y’all do it blessed my heart this frigid morning in the midst of this Christmas season. Thank you for sharing!!
Loved the Sunday song as usual. I have been playing your Christmas cd all week.
My 5th generation ancestor was a minister. My great, great, great, grandpa was removed by his church for playing a lively piano tune one week day afternoon in his own home. Story goes, some workers were digging a hole nearby. As they were moved by the music to dance a jig in their hole they were spotted by another church member who was horrified. I have always thought that it was a wonderful way for my ancestor to spend his non-preaching day – playing music that caused hard working laborers to become happy enough to dance. He was given a gold handled choir baton by his faithful followers when he left, obviously not all church members agreed with his leaving. Happy music is a joy that blesses us as much as singing birds and this delightful song that had me smiling. Thank you so much.
Well, the angels said, “good tidings of great joy” so that is the central message of Christmas. And every year all and reminded and we who are his remember that in spite of the toil and trouble here there is a joy that reaches far above and beyond it all. We will spend our lifetimes never having plumbed the depths of that amazing grace, peace that passes understand and “love beyond degree”. I can’t get over the wonder of that and don’t want to.
Thanks for the song. If Christmas could only have one song, that one would be it for me.
So blessed by this! Joy!!! to the World!!!! The Lord has come!!!!! Thank you and God bless you and yours❤❤
Such good pickin’ and singing!!!
Merry Christmas, Tipper!
That run played by Paul in between the first and second verses is, well, a real Joy!
I’ve loved that wonderful old hymn for many years but never knew the story of how it came to be. Your father and brother played and sang so well together and listening to them this morning brought a bit of Christmas to my heart.
Joy to the World is another of my favorite Christmas songs. The history behind the song is interesting, makes me want to dig in more and learn about all of the others that we play this time of the season. My sister, who is a teacher of the history of rock and roll, told me that a lot of the lively old hymns were old bar room tunes that Christian writers put lyrics to. I don’t have a problem with that, whatever it takes to bring God’s word to the world is the way to do it!
That is some mighty fine picking to a most beautiful rendition for sure!
Beautifully done ! MERY CHRISTMAS ♡
interesting, I always thought it a Christmas song as well. one of my favorite.
I love so many of the Christmas songs. Like “Oh little town of Bethlehem”, “Go tell it on the mountain”, “Hark the herald angels sing”& others like “Mary, did you know?”. Will start singing what ever comes to mind any time of the year. (lol) I just make sure my family isn’t close by.
It’s a pity more folks don’t keep the spirit of Christmas in their hearts thru out the year.
Tipper, love the old Christmas postcards you use as clipart. I once had several hundred old cards from my grandmother dating around early 1900s but moving over the years…
I always learn something new when I read your posts. The history of “Joy to the World” is fascinating, you make me want to dig deeper into the background of more of my favorite songs especially at this time of year.
Have a wonderful beautiful blessed Sunday.
No words…such a beautiful song, sound and memories. God Bless
We have been playing Pap & Paul’s CD all month. We just love the beautiful harmony. Joy to the World is one of our favorites. Because of Jesus we can have joy! Take care and God bless ❣️