One of the most settling and centering things I do during Advent is to listen to and read lyrics of hymns that truly tell the story of the season. I found this beautiful rendition by the Civil Wars today.
Recipe for rest. 1.Read lyrics. 2.Listen and ponder. 3.Listen and thank God.
O Come O Come Emmanuel :Lyrics
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 Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
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 heavenly 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, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
12th C. Latin, author unknown
Hmmmm. I LOVE this hymn. Perhaps my all-time favorite. And I like the Civil Wars (saw them live in Nashville!!!), but I don’t care for their version of this hymn. Interesting, but lacks the joyful, bell-like clarity of the usual version.
Very cool that you saw the Civil Wars. I think you’re right about their version lacking that clarity — I think I just liked that it slowed me down and made me listen:-)! I wish you could hear Robert’s piano arrangement of it — maybe we can get a Youtube of it. It is truly beautiful!