Come, Christians, Join to Sing

"Come, Christians, Join to Sing" is a call to singing -- joyful singing -- singing in praise of Christ our King. It repeats a pair of words, "Alleluia! Amen!" three times in each verse. Alleluia (or Hallelujah) comes from the Hebrew and means "Praise God." "Amen!" is Greek and means "Truly." So this hymn calls us to praise God truly! The hymn tune usually sung with this hymn is known as "Spanish Melody." Benjamin Carr, a Philadelphia music publisher, put the tune together with Bateman's words. One of the reasons the hymn has been so popular for nearly two centuries is that the tune has the same vigorous, joyful character as the words. - Richard Niell Donovan.