The First Nowell
Language: English
Available translation(s): 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!
Authorship:
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