The First Noel
Jerry Douglas Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The First Noel, 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

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
They looked above 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





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

Overall Meaning

The First Noel is a traditional Christmas carol that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The song starts by describing how the angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields on a cold winter's night. The angels announced the good news of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem. The word "Noel" means "good news" or "good tidings" in French, and is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the joyful message that the angels brought.


The second verse mentions the star that shone over the stable where baby Jesus was born, leading the wise men to the holy site. The star is a symbol of hope and light, illuminating the darkness of the night and guiding the wise men to their destination. The repetition of "Noel" in each verse reminds us of the good news that is being celebrated, and the chorus declares that the King of Israel has been born.


Line by Line Meaning

The First Noel, the angels did say
The angels proclaimed the first Christmas to a group of poor shepherds.


Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
The Christmas message was delivered to the shepherds while they were lying in the fields.


In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
The shepherds were taking care of their sheep in the fields at that time.


On a cold winter's night that was so deep
It was a dark and freezing night of winter when the Christmas message was delivered.


Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
The word 'Noel' signifies the joyful announcement of Christ's birth.


Born is the King of Israel
The newborn baby is the King of Israel, who will bring salvation to the world.


They looked above and saw a star
The shepherds saw a shining star in the sky.


Shining in the east beyond them far
The bright star was located far away in the eastern sky.


And to the earth it gave great light
The star was so bright that it illuminated the entire earth.


And so it continued both day and night
The star shined continuously, regardless of whether it was day or night.




Contributed by Ethan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions