Gaudete - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

Gaudete is written in Latin.  The title means 'Rejoice', and the chorus roughly translates as, "Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary; rejoice!"  First printed in the sixteenth century, the Latin that is used for the words dates from medieval times, so the carol is probably dates from earlier.  The folk-rock group Steeleye Span released a cappella rendition of Gaudete, which was a hit in the British charts in 1973.  There is an interesting discussion of Gaudete's origins here.

Chords

Chorus

Am     Em     Am     C       
Gaudete,      gaudete!

        G           Em
Christus est natus

      Am   G      Em    G       
Ex Ma---ria   Virgine;

         Em  Am
Gaude----te!




Verse

Am7
Tempus adest gratiae,

Dm7
Hoc quod optabamus

   
Carmina laetitiae

Am7 
Devote redamus.

Lyrics

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine;
Gaudete!

Tempus adest gratiae,
Hoc quod optabamus
Carmina laetitiae
Devote redamus.

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine;
Gaudete!

Deus homo factus est
Natura mirante,
Mundus renovatus est
A Christo regnante.

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine;
Gaudete!

Ezechielis porta
Clausa pertransitur
Unde Lux est orta
Salus invenitur.

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine;
Gaudete!

Ergo nostra contio
Psallat iam in lustro,
Benedicat Domino
Salus Regi nostro.

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria Virgine;
Gaudete!