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 - 100 of 407)

A Hymnal for Friends #160

A Hymnal for Friends #161

A Junior's Praise #98

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A Service Hymn Book #d140

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American Church and Church School Hymnal #89

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American Junior Church School Hymnal #75

American Student Hymnal #d300

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Ancient and Modern #86

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

Armed Forces Hymnal. Catholic Supplement #d91

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At Worship #124

Australian Hymn Book #221

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Baptist Hymnal (1975 ed) #91

Baptist Hymnal 1956 #63

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Baptist Hymnal 1991 #85

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Baptist Hymnal 2008 #180

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Book of Worship #113

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Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #110

Camp Meeting Songs, a Collection of Gospel Songs ... #d130

Cantate Omnes ... with Supplement #d110

Carols of Christmas #6a

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Carols Old and Carols New #266

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Carols Old and Carols New #643

Catholic Book of Worship #d151

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Catholic Book of Worship III #344

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Catholic Church Hymnal with Music #16

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Celebrating Grace Hymnal #124

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Chalice Hymnal #151

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Chapel Service, Cadet Hymns and Songs #d82

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Children's Hymnal #174

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Children's Praise #68

Christian Hymnways #44

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Christian Praise #56

Christian Praise #394

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Christian Song #116

Christian Worship and Praise #d411

Christian Worship #197

Christian Youth Hymnal #15

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Christmas Carols and Hymns #110

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Christmas Carols and Hymns #110

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Christmas Carols New and Old (First Series) #VI

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Christmas Carols New and Old #6

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Christmas Carols New and Old #6

Christmas Carols #13

Christmas Classics No. 13 #d12

Christmas Favorites #8

Christmas in Song #2

Christmas #d26

Church Family Worship #109

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #198

Church Hymnal, Fourth Edition #c23

Church Hymnal, Third Edition #c13

Church Hymnal #72

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Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #323

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Church Service Hymns #369

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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

Divine Service Book for the Armed Forces #d208

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Elmhurst Hymnal #78

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Evangelical Lutheran Worship #300

Everybody's Hymn Book for Church and Home #d295

Family Album of Favorite Hymns #d94

Favorite Hymns #d126

Favorite Hymns for Children #d26

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Favorite Hymns of Praise #90

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Fellowship Hymnal #174

Foursquare Hymnal #350

Free Will Baptist Hymn Book #d306

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Gather (3rd ed.) #460

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Gather Comprehensive #377

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Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #388

Gems of Christian Song #d41

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

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Gospel Hymnal #d316

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Gospel Melodies and Evangelistic Hymns #157

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Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #208

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Heart and Voice #d251

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Heart and Voice #237

Heavenly Highway Hymns #272

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Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #77

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