The First Nowel the Angel Did Say

Representative Text

1 The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

4 This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]

5 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]

6 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]

Glory to God, 2013

Author: Anonymous

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The first Nowell, the angel did say
Title: The First Nowel the Angel Did Say
Author: Anonymous (1833)
Meter: Irregular
Source: English Carol, 17th C.
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Notes: Source of words: Traditional
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

The first Noel the angel did say. [Christmas.] This is given in Davis Gilbert's Ancient Christmas Carols, 1823, No. ix.; in the Christmas Carols of W. Sandys, 1833, p. 74; Tozer's Catholic Hymns, 1898, and others.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

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