Hanna Kerr is a singer and songwriter of reflective CCM. Born in Buffalo, N… Read Full Bio ↴Hanna Kerr is a singer and songwriter of reflective CCM. Born in Buffalo, New York, she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee just before starting high school. At the age of 18, she became the first artist signed to Made to Thrive, aka M2T Records, a Christian imprint of Black River Entertainment.

The imprint was started by Casting Crowns' Mark Hall and Sawyer Brown's Mark Miller, the latter of whom produced Kerr's debut EP, I Stand Here, released in October 2015.

Titled Overflow, her full-length debut followed in the fall of 2016 during a tour of the U.S in support of Casting Crowns.

The First Noel
Hannah Kerr Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The first Noel, the angel 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.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the the East, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hannah Kerr's song The First Noel are a retelling of the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The first verse tells how the angels announced the birth of the King of Israel to poor shepherds who were tending their sheep in the fields. The use of the word "Noel" in the chorus has a French origin and means "Christmas," adding to the song's festive feel. The second verse tells how the shepherds looked up and saw a star in the east, which led them to the baby Jesus. The use of "both day and night" in the lyrics shows how the star was a constant guide to the shepherds on their journey.

The repeated chorus emphasizes the importance of Jesus Christ's birth and proclaims Him as the King of Israel. The song has a joyful and celebratory tone, with the repetition of "Noel" adding to the festive nature of the lyrics. The story of the shepherds being the first to hear of the birth of Jesus is significant because it highlights how the message of Christ's coming is for everyone, not just the wealthy or powerful. The song captures the essence of Christmas, which is a time for hope, joy, and love.

Line by Line Meaning

The first Noel, the angel did say,
The angel announced the arrival of the first Noel

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
The announcement was made to poor shepherds who were resting in fields

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
The shepherds were lying in the fields, watching over their flock of sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
The night was bitterly cold and very dark

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Noel is being exclaimed and celebrated

Born is the King of Israel.
The King of Israel had been born

They looked up and saw a star
The shepherds looked up and noticed a bright star

Shining in the the East, beyond them far;
The star could be seen in the East, far away from the shepherds

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 shone day and night without fading

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Noel is again being celebrated