The first Nowell the Angel did say Was to three poor Shepherds in the fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep In a cold winter's night that was so deep. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. 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. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, 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. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. This Star drew nigh to the North West, O'er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. Then did they know assuredly Within the house the King did lie: One entered in then for to see, And found the Babe in poverty. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. Then enter'd in those Wise Men three Most reverently upon their knee, And offer'd there in his presence, Both gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. Between an ox stall and an ass, This Child truly there born he was; For want of clothing they did him lay All in the manger, among the hay. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. 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 mankind hath bought. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. If we in our time shall do well, We shall be free from death and Hell, For God hath prepared for us all A resting place in general. Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell,
Nowell, Born is the King of Israel.
Composition date is unknown - the above date represents the first publication date.
The lyrical form of this poem is aabbcc. 1.
For the traditional English melody, see The
Hymnal, edited by David Holbrook and Elizabeth Poston(Cambridge,
Eng.:
University Press, 1967), pp. 232-33.
The story of the appearance of the shepherds and the threemagi to the Christ child appears in the gospels:
Matthew 2.1-12(magi),
Luke 2.8-20 (shepherds).
The history of this carolis given in The New Oxford Book of Carols, ed.
Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott (Oxford:
Oxford
Press, 1992), pp. 482-83.
Nowell: the French word for 'Christmas,' from the Latin wordnatalis ('birthday').
