The First Noel

One of my favorite Christmas Carols is "The First Noel".  I wanted to have a daughter born in December so I could name her Noel.  I just barely got  my wish with Heidi Noel being born December 1.  Here is a little about the carol and all of the verses.  We usually only sing the first two.

The Christmas Carol "The First Noel" first appeared in print in 1833 but had been a part of the folk genre for more than 300 years.  Both France and England claim it as theirs.  It was probably written by someone that knew enough to pen a song but not enough of scripture to be accurate, so it is known that no one from clergy wrote it.  It is genuinely marked as a folk song.

The First Noel
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in field as they lay - 
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Chorus:
Noel, noel, noel, noel,
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

Chorus:

And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from a country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Chorus:

The star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it both did stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Chorus:

They entered in, those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee;
And offered there in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Chorus: