’Joy to the World’ A Reason To Smile Dan Rather and Team Steady Aug 11 Credit: Getty Images The word “joy” has been making a comeback in the last few weeks. That’s welcome news for those of us who closely follow politics, because there hasn’t been much of it in recent years. It’s been more like that old country song, “Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me.” The word joy brings to mind that fun and uplifting song “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night. The lyrics have always confounded me, like many songs from that era. Who the heck is Jeremiah, and why are they singing about a bullfrog? Apparently, the nonsensical lyrics were a product of the songwriter wanting to showcase the melody, and they stuck. Whatever the reason, those silly words make the song even more joyful, and it is this week’s reason to smile.  “Joy to the World” was the number one pop song in 1971 — another year that needed an injection of joy (see Vietnam). And if you can believe it, Three Dog Night is still performing with one of the original band members, 81-year-old lead vocalist Danny Hutton.