Ted Yoder Performs ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ | #SeekChristmas

“What I want to do most with my music is just bring people peace,” Ted Yoder told Grotto when we first filmed him playing his hammered dulcimer for our #GrottoStories feature. We hope that his instrumental version of ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’ will inspire you on your journey to #SeekChristmas and renew your hope in what the birth of Christ means for the world, even today. The song’s lyrics are based on the seven ancient “O” Antiphons and is traditionally sung throughout the season of Advent.

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 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, o Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
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, o Key of David, come
And open wide our heav’nly 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, Adonai, 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.