Láyọ̀, Láyọ̀, La Júbà Rẹ / Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Author: Henry J. van Dyke

Láyọ̀ láyọ̀, la júbà Rẹ Ológo at' Onífẹ́ Ọkàn wa ṣí bí ododo Ti ń ṣí sí òòrùn lókè Yọ 'kukù ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ o'n 'bànújẹ́ Móòkùn 'yèméjì kúrò Olùfúnni láyọ̀ àìkú Fìmọ́lẹ̀ ọjọ́ kúnnú wa.  Iṣẹ́ Rẹ fayọ̀ yí Ọ ka Ay' ọ̀run tàn 'tànṣán Rẹ 'Ràwọ̀, áńgẹ́l' ń kọrin sí Ọ  Àárín gbùngbùn 'yìn pipe Pápá, igbó, pẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀, òkè,  Àkùrọ̀, òkun didan Ohùn ẹyẹ, orísun t'ó ń ṣàn  Pè wá latí yọ̀ n'nú Rẹ   Ò ń fifún ni, Ò ń dáríjì  Ol'bùkún, Alábùkún  'Wọ l' orísun ayọ̀ ìyè  Ìjìnlẹ̀ ìsimi 'Wọ Baba wa, Krist' Ẹ̀gbọ́n wa Tirẹ làwọn tó nífẹ̀ẹ́  Kọ́ wá ba ti ń fẹ́ ara wa Gbé wa sáyọ̀ àtòkèwá Ẹ̀dá gbogbo gberin ayọ̀ Táwọn 'ràw' òórọ̀ bẹ̀rẹ̀  Baba 'fẹ́ ń jọba lori wa Ẹ̀gbọ́n 'fẹ́ so wá papọ̀ Lórin títí, a ń tẹ̀ síwájú  Aṣẹ́gun láàrin ìjà Orin ayọ̀ gbé wa sókè N'nú orin 'ṣẹ́gun iye Translated by Ayọ̀bámi Tèmítọ́pẹ́ Kẹ́hìndé on June 25, 2018

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Op’ning 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 heav’n reflect Thy rays, Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea, Singing bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee. Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest, Wellspring 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 happy chorus, Which the morning stars began; Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife, Joyful music leads us Sunward In the triumph song of life.

Good news, great people! Láyọ̀, Láyọ̀ is now a single track. Who is excited 💃😂🥁🤸? You can use it for your videos and reels on Facebook stories, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and the likes. You only need to search for Precious AY Layo, Layo or Layo, Layo Precious AY on any digital platform and it will bring it. Add it to your playlists on Boomplay, Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer etc. For a quick preview and shortcuts to the song on a few platforms, please click on the links below and kindly share too.

Click here for Layo, Layo

And here

Read story behind hymn here.

My Notes

This is a hymn I love to the core. It is indeed a "Hymn of Joy". God bless you, Van Dyke,  for giving this great song to the world. Even after 111 years of its composition, we are still joyfully singing it.

And oh, I must commend its strong and beautiful literary style. I had a tough time translating to Yorùbá because of that.