From the recordings SACRED and Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee (feat. Matthew Ward)
words by Henry Van Dyke (1907, music by Ludwig Van Beethoven, in the public domain arr. Watson © 2018 Rootbeer Bunny Music (BMI)
Lyrics
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee God of glory, Lord of love hearts unfold like flowers before thee opening to the sun above
melt the clouds of sin and sadness drive the dark of doubt away giver of immortal gladness
fill us with the light of day
All thy works with joy surround thee earth and heaven reflect thy raysstars and angels sing around thee center of unbroken praise field and forest, vale and mountain flowery meadow, flashing sea singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee
Thou art giving and forgiving ever blessing, ever blest well-spring of the joy of living ocean depth of happy rest thou our Father, Christ our brother all who live in love are thine teach us how to love each other lift us to the joy divine
Mortals, join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began love divine is reigning o’er us joining all within its span ever singing, march we onward victors in the midst of strife joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life