Back in June when I started thinking about writing a few Advent/Christmas songs for the new album, I had it in my mind to write at least one or two that were directly connected to scriptural passages. Once I started thinking about it I was surprised to realize how few of the songs from our hit parade of carols are specific in that way. And even though the majority of the songs I write these days are based on scripture, I hadn’t yet written a Christmas song that emanated from a particular chapter and verse. Well, actually there was one, but it was really more of an Epiphany song. Once I started looking around in the Gospels and Psalms and the prophets, I discovered very quickly that there were a lot of great stories here that would lend themselves very well to songtelling. Consequently, three of the five Christmas songs that I wrote in June came from the Gospel of Luke and one came from Isaiah.
I rolled up my sleeves and got to work and no sooner did I finish with "Gabriel and Mary" than I just naturally started right in on "Celebrate the Coming of the Lord," a song about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. These two stories are so closely linked I could hardly imagine telling one without going on to tell the other.
Before he took off, Gabriel made sure to tell Mary that her kinswoman Elizabeth was also going to have a child. It seems to me that the angel was suggesting to Mary that she should look to her older and wiser cousin for counsel and support, and to see her as someone she could lean on and learn from and even celebrate with. And of course, when Mary showed up at Elizabeth’s door, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb, little John the Baptist, sensed the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb and literally kicked off the celebration by leaping for joy. Then Mary, joining right into the spirit of the thing, offered her own song; her canticle; you might even say her aria—the Magnificat!
This song of celebration that I was writing needed to shift into a completely different gear from my song "Gabriel and Mary." This song should be a festival of joy and a jubilee, and I just felt like it really wanted to swing. The three verses tell the story, giving the particulars, and the refrain is all about getting the party started. And even though chronologically the Magnificat should come last, for structural reasons I took a bit of songmaker’s license to find it a place in among the verses. I’m pretty sure these events occurred in a space that wasn’t paying much attention to time, anyway.
Don’t forget to snap your fingers, tap your feet, and sing along. Hey, you can even get up and dance if the mood takes you.
Celebrate the Coming of the Lord
words and music © Garrison Doles
from his CD Songmaker's Christmas
1.
Elizabeth was very great with child
She was carrying little baby John the Baptist
And when her cousin Mary came a-knocking at the door
Baby John begin to celebrate
refain
'Cause it’s time to have a party
And carry on in jubilation
So get on your feet
And celebrate the coming of the Lord
2.
Mary said Elizabeth it’s true
I’ve been visited by Gabriel the angel
And Gabriel has told me 'bout the savior of the world
And I came round so we could celebrate
repeat refrain
bridge
Mary sang her canticle
O magnify the Lord
In joyful exaltation
Of God who is merciful
Loving God who is our hope
Almighty God keeper of promises
For every generation
3.
The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth
And she said Mary you are blessed among all women
And blessed is the baby Jesus in your womb
What better time for us to celebrate
repeat refrain x2
Celebrate the coming of the Lord
So get up on your feet beloved
And celebrate the coming of the Lord
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