The First Noel
B.J. Thomas (Holiday) Lyrics

The first Noel the angel did say
The angel announced the birth of Jesus as 'Noel' to poor shepherds

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
The angel gave the news to shepherds in the fields on the night of Jesus' birth

In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
The shepherds were in the fields fulfilling their duty of taking care of their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
It was a wintry night with deep darkness when Jesus was born

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
The repeated refrain 'Noel' expresses joy and celebration at the birth of Jesus

Born is the King of Israel.
Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is the king of Israel who is celebrated on this occasion

They looked up and saw a star
The shepherds saw a star shining brightly in the sky

Shining in the east, beyond them far,
The star was visible in the eastern direction and far away from them

And to the earth it gave great light,
The star illuminated the earth with its brightness

And so it continued both day and night.
The star was visible both day and night, guiding people towards the newborn king

And by the light of that same star
The three wise men followed the same star that guided the shepherds

Three Wise Men came from country far,
The wise men traveled from a distant place to meet and pay homage to the newborn king

To seek for a King was their intent,
The wise men were searching for the new King whose birth was prophesied

And to follow the star wherever it went.
They followed the star to find the place where the newborn King was laying

Over Bethlehem it took its rest,
The star stopped over Bethlehem where Jesus was born

And there it did both stop and stay,
The star remained stationary over the spot where baby Jesus lay

Right over the place where Jesus lay.
The star was directly above the place where the newborn Christ-child was kept by his parents

Then did they know assuredly
After seeing the star above the place of Jesus' birth, the wise men knew for sure where the King was born

Within that house the King did lie,
In that house, the newborn Jesus was the King who lay on the manger

One entered it them for to see,
One of the wise men entered the house to take a look at the newborn king

And found the Babe in poverty.
He found the virgin Mary's baby son lying in the manger, despite the poverty they were in

Full reverently upon the knee,
All three wise men bowed down on one knee reverently in the presence of the newborn king

And offered there, in His presence,
The wise men presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the presence of baby Jesus

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
The wise men offered gifts of expensive and precious items such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh

This Child truly there He was,
The baby Jesus was present right there, in the place where the animals were kept

Between an ox stall and an ass,
The manger where Jesus was lying was between the stall of oxen and the ass, who were also present there

For want of clothing they did Him lay
Due to the lack of clothing, they laid the baby Jesus down in the manger on a bit of hay

All in a manger, among the hay.
Jesus was lying in a manger set up with hay, which was not a typical place for a king to be born

Then let us all with one accord
We should all come together and agree to

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
Sing songs in praise of the Lord above us

That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
The Lord who created the universe from nothingness is the one we should praise

And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Through shedding his own blood, he redeemed the people from sin and saved them from eternal damnation

If we in our time shall do well,
Doing good things in our own time

We shall be free from death and hell,
Which will help us avoid death and hell

For God hath prepared for us all
God has prepared a reward for all of us

A resting place in general.
Which is a resting place for us all