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Shepherds, Rejoice
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The original setting of this carol appears most noticeably in The Sacred Harp, a famous shape-note hymnbook of the United States, but the words from Isaac Watts (1707) are here in a new setting.
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Song Info
Genre
Classical • Contemporary
Charts
Peak #370
Peak in subgenre #108
Author
Words by Isaac Watts, music by Deeann D. Mathews
Rights
2006 by Praising Pilgrims Music
Uploaded
November 24, 2007
Track Files
MP3
MP3 2.8 MB • 128 kbps • 3:00
Story behind the song
When I read the words to "Shepherds, Rejoice" in my new Sacred Harp hymnal, I fell in love. But the melody in the Sacred Harp is in four parts, and I heard another possibility while reading the lovely words, so I wrote new music, and, because the piece was so short, added another verse to Watts' work, a verse I think he would like . . . By the way, "Kiss the Son" is a quotation from Psalms 2:12, the reading of which puts an unusual but perhaps needed light on Isaac Watts' charming song, and this influenced my third verse as well.
Lyrics
Shepherds, rejoice! Lift up your eyes, And send your fears away! News from the region of the skies: A Saviour's born today! Jesus, the God Whom angels fear Comes down to dwell with you, Today He makes His entrance here, But not as monarchs do. No gold or purple swaddling bands, No royal shining things: A manger for His cradle stands And holds the King of Kings. Go, shepherds, where the infant lies And see His humble throne. With tears of joy in all your eyes Go shepherds, "Kiss the Son"! The Lord Whom shepherds once adored Came for one crucial thing: He bled and died for mankind's sins And rose, still King of Kings. All power ever more is His To save, and condemn. Accept the gift He gives to you: O hearer, believe on Him!
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