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A Family Christmas - The Piano Guys

O Come, Emmanuel

We love the Holiday Season. Why? It’s a great excuse to be extra nice to each other. =) … And we love Christmas music, lights, presents, and the excitement of our sleepless children anticipating the advent of Christmas day. We know there are many out there who do not celebrate Christmas or believe in what it may represent. This song is not meant to exclude anyone…

We hope this song is an opportunity to reflect on everything we are blessed with in life — family, a beautiful earth, a place to rest our head, the warmth of the sun. The lyrics of this piece speak of being “ransomed” from captivity. In general terms, at some point or another in our lives we find ourselves at the receiving end of a “ransom” — a rescue by someone or something — even as simple as a note from a friend, a hug from a child, a much-needed vacation, or the unconditional affection of a loyal dog. That is what this song represents to us. People may define the “rescue” moments in life differently, but the meaning of the moments remain the same. To many, including us, the story of The Savior is the sweetest and most priceless “ransom” of all. To Him we dedicate this song.

And with this video we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a bright future filled with “rescue” moments. We love you!

A thousand THANK YOUs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for allowing us access to their beautiful Jerusalem Movie Set where this was filmed. We felt transported to the Holy Land as we played music and filmed there. It was an incredible experience.

And many many thanks to Marshall McDonald, an incredible friend and example who co-wrote this arrangement.

Lyrics:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
[Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
[Refrain]
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.
[Refrain]
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
[Refrain]
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
[Refrain]
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

Credits:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel – traditional
Arrangement written by Marshall McDonald and Steven Sharp Nelson
Arrangement produced by Al van der Beek, Jon Schmidt, and Steven Sharp Nelson
Performed by
Steven Sharp Nelson: Cello
Jon Schmidt: Piano
Cello recorded by Blair Leishman at Covenant Studios
Piano recorded by Al van der Beek at ThePianoGuys Studios
Mixed and mastered by Al van der Beek at TPG Studios
Video filmed, edited, and produced by Paul Anderson

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