
Hymnal: The New Century Hymnal #139 (1995) Meter: Irregular with refrain First Line: The first Nowell, the angel did say Lyrics: 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 in a manger, Emmanuel.
2 They looked above 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 sages came from country far,
To seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]
4 This star shone bright in 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 magi three,
and bending low upon their knee,
They offered there, in great reverence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense. [Refrain]
Topics: Christmas; Jesus Christ Birth and Infancy; Year A Epiphany; Year B Epiphany; Year C Epiphany Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 Languages: English Tune Title: THE FIRST NOWELL
The First Nowell