He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).
Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".
Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.
The First Noel
Roger Whittaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay tending their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
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
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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
This star drew nigh to the northwest
Over Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie
One entered it them for to see
And found the Babe in poverty
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Then entered in those Wise Men three
Full reverently upon the knee
And offered there, in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Between an ox stall and an ass
This Child truly there He was
For want of clothing they did Him lay
All in a manger, among the hay
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of naught
And with His blood mankind hath bought
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
If we in our time shall do well
We shall be free from death and hell
For God hath prepared for us all
A resting place in general
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
The First Noel lyrics tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ as told in the Bible. The song starts by describing how the angel announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds in their fields. The “Noel, Noel” chant serves as a joyful refrain announcing the arrival of the King of Israel, who is the reason for the season. The shepherds looking up saw the star shining in the East pointed toward Bethlehem where the light rested over the birthplace of Jesus, a manger in a stable. It is said that the three Wise Men followed the same guiding star to reach the same destination to offer gifts to the newly born Christ.
The lyrics allude to the significance of the gifts, bringing gold which represents Jesus’ royal status, frankincense which symbolizes the divine nature of Christ, and myrrh, which foretells Christ’s death and humanity. These gifts were offered with great reverence before the new-born’s feet in the stable. The final verse implores listeners to sing praises to the Lord, who made heaven and earth and gifted us salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
The first Noel the angel did say
The angel announced the first Christmas to certain poor shepherds, who were lying in fields taking care of their sheep.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
The angel appeared in fields to announce the first Christmas to certain poor shepherds who were lying there as they tended their sheep.
In fields where they lay tending their sheep
They were tending their sheep in the fields where the first Christmas was announced.
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
On a night that was so deep during a cold winter, the announcement of the first Christmas was made.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Lyrics in the song to celebrate the first Christmas
Born is the King of Israel
Celebrate the birth of the King of Israel during the first Christmas
They look'd up and saw a star
The shepherds looked up and saw a bright shining star
Shining in the east, beyond them far
The star was shining far away to the east.
And to the earth it gave great light
The star shone on the earth, giving it a great light.
And so it continued both day and night
The star shone both day and night, drawing the Wise Men to follow it.
And by the light of that same star
The Wise Men followed the same star that shone on earth.
Three Wise Men came from country far
Three Wise Men came from a faraway country.
To seek for a King was their intent
The Wise Men were searching for a King.
And to follow the star wherever it went
They followed the star wherever it went and found where the King lay.
This star drew nigh to the northwest
The star drew nearer to the northwest.
Over Bethlehem it took its rest
The star stopped and took its rest over Bethlehem.
And there it did both stop and stay
The star stopped and stayed over Bethlehem.
Right over the place where Jesus lay
The star stopped and stayed right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then did they know assuredly
They knew with certainty
Within that house the King did lie
They found the King lying in a house
One entered it them for to see
One entered and saw the King.
And found the Babe in poverty
The Babe was found in poverty, lying in a manger.
Then entered in those Wise Men three
The Wise Men entered, all three of them.
Full reverently upon the knee
They knelt down reverently.
And offered there, in His presence
They offered gold, myrrh, and frankincense in the presence of the King.
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
The Wise Men offered gold, myrrh, and frankincense
Between an ox stall and an ass
Jesus was found lying between an ox stall and an ass.
This Child truly there He was
Jesus was truly there as a Child.
For want of clothing they did Him lay
Because they didn't have any clothes, they laid Him in a manger using hay
All in a manger, among the hay
Jesus slept in a manger surrounded by hay.
Then let us all with one accord
Let us sing together with one spirit.
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
Celebrate and sing praises to our heavenly Lord.
That hath made heaven and earth of naught
Celebrate the Lord who made heaven and earth out of nothing.
And with His blood mankind hath bought
Celebrate the Lord who bought mankind with His blood.
If we in our time shall do well
If we do well during our lifetime.
We shall be free from death and hell
We will be free from death and hell.
For God hath prepared for us all
God has prepared a resting place for all of us.
A resting place in general
A resting place available for everyone.
Lyrics © HELENE BLUE MUSIQUE LTD, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRADITIONAL, AVRIEL KAPLAN, BEN BRAM, KEVIN OLUSOLA, SCOTT HOYING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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