The sheet music for Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is a lead sheet with chords (chord symbols) available for download as a PDF.

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

In the early 1700’s Johann Sebastian Bach used John Schopp’s 1640’s melody, “Werde munter, mein Gemüte” (Become Cheerful, My Mind), for the tenth chorale movement of the cantata, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben”Jesu (Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life). “Jesu bleibet meine Freude” is the name of the tenth movement and it is known in English as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The Beach Boy used the melody to Jesu for a part of the 1979 song “Lady Lynda.”

Sheet Music

This is a sample of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” The complete sheet music lead sheet (2 Pages) is available for download as a PDF.

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Words

This is a common English version of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” written by Robert Seymour Bridges (23 October 1844 – 21 April 1930). Both Robert Bridges and Bach used Martin Janus’s 1661 hymn, “Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne,” for inspiration. The same hymn that was used for the original mid-1600’s melody by John Schopp.

Jesu, joy of man's desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure.
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.

For more about the history and lyrics see the Wikipedia article on the subject here.

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