Joy Came Back
Hymn composed by
Heather PiersonContextual information
“Joy Came Back” is a song that I composed in the spring of 2020, originally for inclusion in the “Heart Songs & Circle Songs” repertoire that I and HS/CS co-creator Bernice Martin maintain for community singing. It quickly became my band’s traditional set closer. The song is inspired by the Baptist hymns of my upbringing, and by the musical traditions of New Orleans of which I’ve been a lifelong student.
“Joy Came Back” is a song that I composed in the spring of 2020, originally for inclusion in the “Heart Songs & Circle Songs” repertoire that I and HS/CS co-creator Bernice Martin maintain for community singing. It quickly became my band’s traditional set closer. The song is inspired by the Baptist hymns of my upbringing, and by the musical traditions of New Orleans of which I’ve been a lifelong student.
Tune Name
[Joy Came Back]
Tune Name
Text Meter
10.10.12.10.
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Heather PiersonHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Heather Pierson (she/her) is a singer/songwriter, pianist, song leader, and nationally touring performer who has released 16 albums and several singles of her original music, ranging in style from folk to jazz to vocal chants. From 2003 to 2019, Heather served as the Music Director of First Universalist Church of Norway, ME. She currently serves on the piano/voice faculty of the New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp. Heather currently lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Lyricist Background information
Heather Pierson (she/her) is a singer/songwriter, pianist, song leader, and nationally touring performer who has released 16 albums and several singles of her original music, ranging in style from folk to jazz to vocal chants. From 2003 to 2019, Heather served as the Music Director of First Universalist Church of Norway, ME. She currently serves on the piano/voice faculty of the New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp. Heather currently lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Arranger Background information
Lyrics
I'm so glad that my joy came back to me.
I'm so glad that my joy came back to me,
yes I cried and I prayed until that blessed day
that my joy at last came back to me.
I'm so glad for the lessons that I've learned.
I'm so glad for the lessons that I've learned,
yes I cried and I prayed until that blessed day
that I'm glad for the lessons that I've learned.
I'm so glad that I lived to tell the tale.
I'm so glad that I lived to tell the tale,
yes I cried and I prayed until that blessed day
that I lived at last to tell the tale.
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files