The First Nowell

The first Nowell (o anche: The first Noel = “Il primo Natale”) è un tradizionale canto natalizio inglese, originario probabilmente della Cornovaglia (anche se le forme Nowell e Noel, confrontabili con fr. noël, hanno suggerito - forse erroneamente - anche una possibile origine francese) e databile tra il XVI e il XVII secolo (ma forse anche più antico), che venne pubblicato per la prima volta nel 1823 con un arrangiamento ed aggiunte nel testo ad opera di Davies Gilbert nella raccolta Some Ancient Christmas Carols, curata da William B. Sandys.

Il testo, che si compone di 9 strofe (delle quali tre vengono spesso tralasciate nelle versioni moderne), è di contenuto religioso: parla, infatti, della nascita di Gesù, dall'annuncio ai pastori all'arrivo dei Re Magi, ecc. Il “primo Natale” (The first Nowell) a cui fa riferimento il titolo è evidentemente proprio il giorno della Natività. Nel ritornello, la parola noël rima con Israel:

The first 'Nowell the angels 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.

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.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! 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.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest: O'er Bethlehem it took its rest; And there it did both stop and stay, Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Born is the King of Israel!

*Then did they know assuredly Within that house the King did lie; One entered in then for to see, And found the Babe in poverty.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those wise men three, Full rev'rently upon their knee, And offered there, in his presence, Both gold and myrrh, and frankincense.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Born is the King of Israel!

*Between an ox-stall and an ass This Child there truly borned was; For want of clothing they did him lay All in the manger, among the hay.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! 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 nought, And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! 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.

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Born is the King of Israel!

*Strofe di solito omesse nelle esecuzioni moderne.

La canzone è stata incisa, tra gli altri da: Air Supply (in The Christmas Album, 1987), Boney M, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey (nell'album Merry Christmas II You del 2010), Crash Test Dummies, The Kelly Family (in Christmas All Year del 1981), Nat King Cole, Sarah McLachlan, NSYNC, Bob Dylan (Christmas in the Heart, 2009), Glenn Medeiros (The Glenn Medeiros Christmas Album, 1993), Melissa Benoist in Glee.