Christmas
The First Noel
- Words:
- Traditional English carol, possibly dating from as early as the 13th Century.
- Music:
- 'The First Noel' Traditional English carol, possibly dating from as early as the 13th Century.
- Setting:
- "The Methodist Sunday School Hymnal", 1911.
- 1The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;In fields where they lay tending their sheep,On a cold winter's night that was so deep.Noel, Noel,Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel.
- 2They lookèd 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.Noel, Noel,Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel.
- 3And 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.Noel, Noel,Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel.
- 4This star drew nigh to the northwest,Over Bethlehem it took its rest;And there it did both stop and stay,Right over the place where Jesus lay.Noel, Noel,Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel.
- 5Then did they know assuredly Within that house the King did lie;One entered it them for to see,And found the Babe in poverty.Noel, Noel,Noel, Noel,Born is the King of Israel.
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Words, music and setting are in the public domain. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project (Brian J. Dumont), which places its own work in the public domain. Further sheet music is from PDHymns.com. The piano is the FluidR3 General MIDI sound font (MIT licence). How many hymnals print a hymn, and when it was written, is from Hymnary.org.