JESUS CHRIST >> Birth
SDAH 118
The first noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
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For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: The First Noel
This beloved English carol, dating back to at least the 17th century, reflects the heartfelt storytelling style of the people—sung outside the church in the vernacular during the Middle Ages when congregational singing wasn’t part of worship. First published in Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1823) and later in William Sandys’ 1833 collection, it retells the nativity story with joyful, if not always scriptural, detail.
Its name Noel likely comes from the French word for “news” or may echo the sound of “Emmanuel.” The tune’s simple, flowing scale makes it easy to sing—and even easier to love.
As we sing, may we join the long tradition of voices announcing the Good News: Christ is born!
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Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
In the Middle Ages all the singing inside the church was clone by the priests. However, outside the church the people gave vent to their emotions and sang their semi-sacred songs in the vernacular, based mainly Bible stories and characters. From this practice there grew up the carol or ring dance which was less formal than a solemn religious chant and performed in a freer, relaxed atmosphere. The words were made up spontaneously by the leader and fitted, as far as possible, to the rhythm of the music. This accounts for the irregular meter of this hymn and also for the slight inaccuracies; e.g., it describes the shepherds as seeing a star shining in the east. What they saw was the angel of the Lord (Matt. 2:8, 9). The Wise Men were in the east when they saw the star, and obviously saw the star in the west. The star was not visible continuously “both day and night,” for the Wise Men “rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (verse 10) when they saw it again standing over the house where Mary and Joseph and the Babe then were. The words are found in Davis Giddy’s (later Gilbert) Some Ancient Christmas Carols, 1823, but the words with the tune are taken from William Sandys’ collection of Christmas Carols, 1833. But both words and music are of much older origin, at least from the seventeenth century. There were nine stanzas.
THE FIRST NOEL first appeared in Sandys’ collection; the name may be from the French nouvelles or news, that is, “good tidings.” Another origin suggested is that the sound is the echo of the last two syllables of Emmanuel, the prophetic name for the child Jesus (Matt. 1:23). Yet another traces it from nada/ or natalis, i.e. , birthday. The melody is very easy to learn and to sing, for it is almost a complete succession of notes separated by a single interval; in other words, a series of scale passages, ascending or descending, or portions thereof. The four exceptions are a drop of a fourth, which occurs three times, and a rise of the same interval once. William Sandys was born in London on October 29, 1792, and died in London on February 18, 1874. He was called to the bar in 18 14 and engaged in a law practice, but is chiefly remembered for his interest in carols and his revival of carol singing.
Stanza:
1 – Luke 2:8
2 – Matthew 2:2
4 – Matthew 2:9
5 – Matthew 2:11
R – John 1:49
Text
1
The first noel 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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
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.
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.
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.
5
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Luke 2:8 (b) Matt 2:2 (e) Matt 2:9 (r) John 1:49
Text Source
Traditional English carol, c. 1823
Hymn Tune
THE FIRST NOEL
Metrical Number
Irregular Ref.
Tune Source
Wm. Sandy’s Christmas Carols, 1833
Theme
BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
