To most listeners, "While By My Sheep" is not one of the most well-known Christmas carols. If you listen to "While By My Sheep," followed by "Joy To The World," you can hear how "...Sheep..." sounds like a prototype for "Joy..." "Joy To The World" takes "While By My Sheep"'s most tuneful elements and shapes them into a melody that's more memorable.
In both carols, however, the joy comes across.
