The First Noel

The 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.

They 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.

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.

Noel, No­el, No­el, No­el,
Born is the King of Is­ra­el.

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.

Noel, No­el, No­el, No­el,
Born is the King of Is­ra­el.

Then entered in those Wise Men three,
full reverently upon the knee,
and offered there, in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Noel, No­el, No­el, No­el,
Born is the King of Is­ra­el.