This Christmas carol has an elaborate history dating all the way back to the Latin hymn “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.” This goes back to the Byzantine tradition of Magnificat Antiphons at Vespers, a tradition dating back to the 500s. These antiphons, a short call-and-response style musical chant based off the Psalms, are sometimes referred to as “the Great O’s” since they all start with the call “O!”
The melody to the “Veni Emmanuel” lyrics was linked for the first time to the hymn in 1851 with what might be the song’s first English translation. Interestingly, the melody O Come, O Come, Emmanuel was connected with was a 15th Century funeral processional hymn for French Franciscan nuns found in the National Library of Paris. Although an odd contextual pairing, it’s particularly inspired with the lyrics perfectly matching the music’s mix of contemplative somberness and joyful epiphany.
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, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
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 Dayspring, 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, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel