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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

The First Nowell
Language: English 
Our translations:  DUT
The First Nowell, the Angels 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:
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 northwest;
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three
Full rev’rently upon their knee,
And offer’d there in his presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel! 

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
And with his blood mankind has bought:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!

Text Authorship:

  • from Volkslieder (Folksongs)  [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by David Willcocks (1919 - 2015), "The First Nowell", 1980 [ chorus and piano ], arrangement of a 13th-century song [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lidy van Noordenburg) , "De eerste Kerst", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Lidy van Noordenburg

This text was added to the website: 2023-06-10
Line count: 36
Word count: 235

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