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 >

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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Instances

Instances (1 - 89 of 89)
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African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #111

Ambassador Hymnal #33

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Ancient and Modern #86

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #705

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Baptist Hymnal 1991 #85

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Baptist Hymnal 2008 #180

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Catholic Book of Worship III #344

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Chalice Hymnal #151

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Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #198

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Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #323

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Common Praise (1998) #139

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Community of Christ Sings #424

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Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #641

Complete Mission Praise #644

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CPWI Hymnal #88

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Evangelical Lutheran Worship #300

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Gather (3rd ed.) #460

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Gather Comprehensive #377

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Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #388

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Glory and Praise (3rd. ed.) #259

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Glory to God #147

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #208

Hymnal #199

Hymns and Psalms #119

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Hymns for a Pilgrim People #108

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Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #93

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Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #323

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Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #328

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Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #276

Living Hymns #114

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Moravian Book of Worship #290

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One in Faith #383

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Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #188

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #242

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Rejoice Hymns #204

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Rejoice in the Lord #223

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RitualSong #537

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The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #123

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The Book of Praise #136

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