a.k.a. The First Noel An Old English traditional Christmas carol Key of C Major Range: C4 to C5 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 The__ first__ Now-ell, the__ an-gel did say, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 Was to cer-tain poor shep-herds in fields as they 2 -1 lay;__ 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 In__ fields where they lay___ keep-ing their 3 sheep, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 On a cold win-ter's night that was__ so deep. 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 Now ell__, Now ell__, 4 -4 -3 -3 3 Now-ell,__ Now-ell,__ 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Born is the King of Is - ra-el! 2 -1 1 -1 2-2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 They__ looked____ up and__ saw__ a___ Star,_____ -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 -1 Shining in__ the East,__ be-yond__ them far;__ 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 And__ to__ the_ earth, it___ gave_ great light, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 And__ so__ it continued both day and night. 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 Now ell__, Now ell__, 4 -4 -3 -3 3 Now-ell,__ Now-ell,__ 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Born is the King of Is - ra-el! 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 And__ by__ the__ light of__ that_ same star, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 -1 Three__ wise__ men came__ from country far;__ 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 To__ see__ for__ a King was_ their__ in-tent, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 And to follow the star wher-e-ver it went; 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 Now ell__, Now ell__, 4 -4 -3 -3 3 Now-ell,__ Now-ell,__ 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Born is the King of Is - ra-el! 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 The__ star__ drew__ nigh to__ the__ North-West, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 -1 O'er_ Beth-le-hem it__ took its___ rest,__ 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 And__ there it__ did, both__ stop and stay, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Right over__ the place where Je-sus lay. 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 Now ell__, Now ell__, 4 -4 -3 -3 3 Now-ell,__ Now-ell,__ 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Born is the King of Is - ra-el! 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 Then__ en - tered in those_ wise men three -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 -1 Full__ reverent-ly__ up-on__ their knee, 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 And__ of-fered there in__ His___ pre-sence -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Their gold and myrrh and frankincense; 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 Now ell__, Now ell__, 4 -4 -3 -3 3 Now-ell,__ Now-ell,__ 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Born is the King of Is - ra-el! 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 Then__ let__ us__ all with__ one__ ac-cord -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 -1 Sing__ praises to__ our__ hea-ven-ly Lord, 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 That_ hath_ made__ heaven and earth of nought, -3 -4 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 And__ with His blood mankind__ hath bought: 2 -1 1 -1 2 -2 3 Now ell__, Now ell__, 4 -4 -3 -3 3 Now-ell,__ Now-ell,__ 4 -4 -3 3 -3 -4 4 3 -2 2 Born is the King of Is - ra-el! A Little History: Northern Illinois University Professor Emeritus (and world renowned expert on Christmas carols) William Studwell has chosen the 450-year-old song as his Carol of the Year for 2006. He purposefully refers to it by its original title The First Nowell, and is using the occasion of the honor to set the record straight on the songs history.Whenever the misguided and mistaken form The First Noel appears in the literature of carols, the usual and typical impression derived is that the carol is of French origin, says Studwell, who has been selecting a Carol of the Year for 21 years. But such an inference is thoroughly and unequivocally incorrect. The word Nowell is indeed an Anglicized version of the French word for Christmas, Noel, he says. However, all historical evidence indicates that the song emerged from the remote Cornwall region of southwest England in the mid 16th century. Whether the name was changed by a Francophile publisher or just a lazy typesetter seeking a shorter word is unclear, but sometime between 1870 and the early 20th century, the switch was made. Regardless of how or why it happened, the new title stuck and confusion over the birthplace of this much beloved carol has reigned ever since.... For more, see: http://www.niu.edu/PubAffairs/RELEASES/2006/nov/Nowell.shtml