The First Noel — chord chart in any key
Traditional English carol, printed 1823. Tune: THE FIRST NOWELL. Public domain, free to print.
Key
View
Capo
Key of D.
Verse 1
The Dfirst NoAel the Dangel Gdid Dsay
Was to Dcertain Gpoor Dshepherds Ain Dfields as A7they Dlay;
In Dfields where Athey lay Dkeeping Gtheir Dsheep,
On a Dcold winGter’s Dnight Athat Dwas A7so Ddeep.
Refrain
NoDel, NoAel, DNoGel, NoDel,A
BmBorn is Gthe DKing Aof DIsA7raDel.
Verse 2
They Dlooked Aup and Dsaw Ga Dstar
Shining Din Gthe Deast, AbeDyond A7them Dfar;
And Dto the Aearth it Dgave Ggreat Dlight,
And Dso it GconDtinued Aboth Dday A7and Dnight.
Verse 3
And Dby the Alight of Dthat Gsame Dstar
Three Dwise Gmen Dcame Afrom DcounA7try Dfar;
To Dseek for a AKing was Dtheir GinDtent,
And to Dfollow Gthe Dstar AwherDever A7it Dwent.
Verse 4
This Dstar drew Anigh to Dthe GnorthDwest,
O’er DBethGleDhem Ait Dtook A7its Drest;
And Dthere it Adid both Dstop Gand Dstay,
Right Dover Gthe Dplace Awhere DJeA7sus Dlay.
Verse 5
Then Dlet us Aall with Done GacDcord
Sing DpraisGes Dto Aour DheavenA7ly DLord,
That Dhath made Aheaven and Dearth Gof Dnaught,
And Dwith GHis Dblood AmanDkind A7hath Dbought.
This traditional English carol first appeared in print in Davies Gilbert's Some Ancient Christmas Carols in 1823, and its tune THE FIRST NOWELL in William Sandys's Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern in 1833. John Stainer harmonized it for Christmas Carols New and Old in 1871, and the meter is irregular with a refrain.