What Can’t Wait? An Advent Soundtrack
The Advent season is a musically rich time. Between Lessons & Carols services and the Christmas songs pumping through every car and store, music fills December. But if you’re trying hard to save the Christmas carols for Christmas as you lean into Advent, this post is for you. Here we’ve collected hymns and songs that work well with our “What Can’t Wait?” Advent theme based on the Year A texts of the Revised Common Lectionary. We’ve also compiled many of these songs into a Spotify playlist for you to listen and share. We hope these lists help you as you’re planning meaningful worship services that encourage action as we await the coming of Christ.
“What Can’t Wait?”—All Advent
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“What Can’t Wait?” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: HYFRYDOL (8.7.8.7 D)“Look From Thy Sphere of Endless Day” [↗]
Words: William Cullen Bryant (1840) Tune: Any 8.8.8.8 meter, such as OLD 100TH“Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” [↗]
African-American spiritual
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“God’s Promised Day Can’t Wait (Hope Can’t Wait)”—Advent 1
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Dream God’s Dream” [↗]
Words and Music: Bryan Sirchio (1992)“Pave the Way with Justice” [↗]
Words and Music: Bret Hesla (1999)“O Day of Peace” [↗]
Words: Carl P. Daw (1982) Tune: JERUSALEM“Thy Kingdom Come! On Bended Knee” [↗]
Words: Frederick Lucian Hosmer (1891) Tune: IRISH (8.6.8.6)“Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old” [↗]
Words: Joy F. Patterson (1982) Tune: SAMANTHRA (Irr.)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“Repentance Can’t Wait (Peace Can’t Wait)”—Advent 2
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Comfort, Comfort You My People” [↗]
Words: Johann Olearius (1671), trans. Catherine Winkworth (1863) Tune: GENEVAN (8.7.8.7.8.8)“Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice” [↗]
Words: Carl P. Daw (1989) Tune: ABERYSTWYTH (7.7.7.7 D)“Heralds of Christ” [↗]
Words: Laura S. Copenhaver (1915) Tune: NATIONAL HYMN (10.10.10.10)“Bear Fruit of True Repentance” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: MEIRIONYDD (7.6.7.6 D)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“Delight Can’t Wait (Joy Can’t Wait)”—Advent 3
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” [↗]
Words: Henry Van Dyke (1907) Tune: HYMN TO JOY (8.7.8.7 D)“Tell Out, My Soul” [↗]
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (1961) Tune: WOODLANDS (10.10.10.10)“Canticle of the Turning” [↗]
Words: Rory Cooney (1990) Tune: STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN (8.6.8.6 D)“Magnificat” [↗]
Words: Taizé Community (1978) Tune: MAGNIFICAT“Song of Mary” [↗]
Words: Miriam Therese Winter (1987) Tune: MORNING SONG (8.6.8.6)“You Shall Go Out With Joy” [↗]
Words: Steffi Karen Rubin (1975) Tune: TREES OF THE FIELD (Irr.)“Better Days Are Dawning” [↗]
Words: Annie Lewis Pinfold (1908) Tune: COURAGE MOTHER (9.9.9.12)“Dry Land Becomes a River” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: ES IST EIN’ ROS’ (7.6.7.6.6.7.6)“Praise Ye the Lord! O Praise the Lord, My Soul!” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2019) Tune: OLD 124TH (10.10.10.10.10)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“Courage Can’t Wait (Love Can’t Wait)”—Advent 4
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” [↗]
Words: George Matheson (1882) Tune: ST. MARGARET (8.8.8.8.6)“Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear” [↗]
Words: Carol Birkland (1993) Tune: RESONET IN LAUDIBUS (7.8.8.11)“Nine Months Was Mary’s Advent” [↗]
Words: Stephen M. Fearing (2015) Tune: VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN (7.6.7.6. D)“It Came to Joseph Fast Asleep” [↗]
Words: Anna Strickland (2019) Tune: CAROL (8.6.8.6 D)“Joseph Heard the Troubling News” [↗]
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2010) Tune: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM (7.6.7.6 D)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“What Can’t Wait?”—Christmas Eve
Hymns and Congregational Songs
“Once in Royal David’s City” [↗]
Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1848) Tune: IRBY (8.7.8.7.7.7)“Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow” [↗]
African-American Spiritual“Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn” [↗]
Words: Marty Haugen (1983) Tune: REJOICE, REJOICE (9.8.9.8.8.7.8.9)“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” [↗]
Words: Edmund H. Sears (1849) Tune: CAROL (8.6.8.6 D)“O Holy Night” [↗]
Words: Placide Cappeau (1847) Tune: CANTIQUE DE NOEL (11.10.11.10.11.10.11.10.10)
Songs for Listening, Preludes, or Special Music
“The Wait is Done” by Future of Forestry [↗]
Anna Strickland (she/her/hers) is currently pursuing her Master's of Divinity at Iliff School of Theology. She is a native Austinite and graduated from the University of Texas where she now works in college ministry, especially serving LGBTQ students. Anna loves painting, spending time outside, and her family.