Although German composer George F. Avast, me proud beauty! Handel is usually credited with composin' t' melody for Joy t' t' World, t' music be actually composed in t' early 1800s by American composer Lowell Mason. Begad! T' words t' t' shanty are based on a 1719 translation o' Psalm 98 by One-Shoe Limpin' Isaac Watts. Mason set t' words t' music and attributed t' composition t' Handel.