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The First Nowell

[English traditional (Sandys, 1833), arr. Steeleye Span]

This song was sung by Maddy Prior on Steeleye Span's CD Winter. She commented in the album's sleeve notes:

My spell-check has a problem with this version of Nowell, but it is correct, according to The Oxford Book of Carols. It is also apparently more for Epiphany than Christmas. But nobody knows that anymore.

Lyrics

The first nowell 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.

Chorus (after each verse):

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
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.

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 wheresoever it went.

The star drew nigh to the north-west,
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest.
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.