The First Noel
Willie Nelson (Holiday) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came
From the 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
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Born is the King of Israel
In "The First Noel," Willie Nelson reminds us of the angel's message to the shepherds in the fields where they grazed their sheep about the birth of the King of Israel. The chorus "Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel" is repeated throughout the song, spurring a reflection on the significance of the season. The shepherds who were the first to learn of the birth of Jesus are an essential part of the narrative of Christ's story.
The arrival of the wise men from the east, following a guiding star, adds to the wonder of the story. Their journey to pay homage to the baby Jesus marks them as characters central to the Nativity, and their presence affirms Jesus's significance. The intertwining of the three narratives-the shepherds, the angel, and the wise men-make "The First Noel" a beautiful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, a story that has transcended time.
Line by Line Meaning
The first Noel the angel did say
The angel proclaimed the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ by singing the first Noel
Was to certain poor shepherds
The angel shared the first Noel with a group of shepherds who were struggling financially
In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
That was so deep.
The shepherds were in open fields during a cold and dark winter night, making sure their sheep were safe and sound
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
The shepherds saw a bright star shining in the east, which lit up the whole sky both day and night
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came
From the country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star
Wherever it went.
The wise men followed the star that led them to where Jesus was born, with a strong intent to see and worship the newborn King
Noel, Noel
Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Noel is a joyful expression of the good news that Jesus, the King of Israel, has been born
Born is the King of Israel
The birth of Jesus signifies the arrival of the long-awaited King of Israel, bringing hope and salvation to the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN J. CULBERTSON, Traditional Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind