The past week I shared a bittersweet story about a baby born on Christmas that was named Noel. The story is from John Parris’s writings. If you missed hearing the story you can listen to it here.
Of course reading about the baby Noel reminded me of the song “The First Noel.”
The Christmas song was never one of my favorites until Pap and Paul put it on their Songs of Christmas cd. Paul’s vocals are truly outstanding. The combination of Paul’s voice, the music, and Pap’s tenor the song brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
After becoming enamored with the song, I began to wonder about it’s origin. I assumed it was from the early 1900s, but I was wrong.
- “The First Noel” is one of the oldest Christmas songs, as old as 400 years.
- There are some folks who think the song originated in France others think England.
- Noel is a loud shout expressing the joy surrounding Christ’s birth.
- It’s considered a folk song.
- The original version had many grammatical errors showing that an uneducated person wrote the song.
- The writer was obviously excited about Christmas even though during that time Bibles were not accessible to every day folks and even if they had been most people couldn’t read.
- For many years after the song was written the clergy frowned on songs such as “The First Noel” making it a true song of the people.
- In 1833 the song was finally published by William Sandys and soon afterward The Church Of England began using the song as a hymn.
Amazing how the song survived just by word of mouth; sung around the fire passed on to each generation. Knowing “The First Noel” was written by someone with not much education but a strong desire to express their joy of Christmas makes the song seem truly from the heart.
Listen to Paul and Pap’s version and see if you enjoy it too.
I hope you enjoyed the song! You can find their Songs of Christmas cd here.
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I’m so glad that God doesn’t have to go through clergy to speak to people’s hearts! Beautiful song beautifully sung!
Lovely music for the season!!
I celebrate my birthday on Christmas as well as Noel, though I was born in much different conditions.
Also, we are enjoying the black walnut fudge very much. Great recipe, thanks
Tipper, that is such a lovely version of that song. Thank you for sharing and teaching me the history of “The First Noel.” I also want to let you know that this is the second Christmas season that I’ve made the stollen recipe that you were kind enough to share. It’s definitely became a favorite recipe in our household. Thanks for sharing so much with so many. God bless.
Beautifully done!
Thanks for the history of one of my favorite Christmas carols. Knowing the history behind songs and hymns can give it so much more meaning to us.
“Noel is a loud shout expressing the joy surrounding Christ’s birth.” That is awesome. And we all shout Noel!!!
I knew “The First Noel” was probably from French origin, but didn’t know the rest of its history. That was really neat! Beautiful recording of Pap and Paul!
I received the Christmas CD and play it everyday. The chosen songs are Beautiful and Pap and Paul’s voices are Amazing. I enjoy your blog and Videos daily. I wish the girls all the best as they await the arrival of their precious baby boys in the New Year. All of you seem like Family
Love and Prayers to Granny and to ALL of you. Merry Christmas
Beautiful rendition of the song. Again thanks so much for sharing a heartfelt Noel.
Blessings to all.
That was so beautiful. I listened twice–back to back!
Thank you Tipper for the interesting facts on the song ‘The First Noel’. Pap and Paul’s version is absolutely beautiful, I love their voices!
Just beautiful!
Thank you for sharing the duet with Paul and your father. It is beautiful.
I think Pap and Paul sang it beautifully. Thank you for sharing and also for the history of this song. It was one of the very first Christmas carols I learned to play on the piano. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!!
Noel-one of my favorite Christmas songs. It will be sung today at my church Beech Park Baptist Church in Oliver Sorings, TN.
Everyone have a great day. Blessings to all.
I am “uneducated”. What I’ve done in life and what I do should not be judged by a peice of paper, but it is. Frankly, I could care less! I’ve worked hard and cared for my family well. That’s what God put me here for, and to trust and obey Him. He don’t hand out diplomas.
It’s i before e except before c ain’t it. I get confused!
Paul and Paps rendition of that beautiful old song is one of the best I’ve ever heard.
I know they aren’t my family, but they make me cry when I hear them sing too. So beautiful!
One of my very favorite Christmas cds is one made by Patty Loveless and it’s called “Bluegrass and White Snow”. I would rate Paul and Pap’s cd right there too. It’s so good!
I’m honored to have it in my music collection.
Blessings to all! Prayers for Granny!
♫ Is it gonna rain all day, all day
is it gonna rain all day?
From the darkness of the clouds,
and the drops coming down
looks like it’s here to stay.
99% in the morning,
97% in the day.
9% percent in the evening,
maybe it’ll go away. ♪♫
Another good old time Christmas Carol that I don’t hear sung anymore. Tipper said in her research of this song, she found that the one that wrote this song was not very well educated (school learning). What is education? One of the smartest and most successful man I have every known only had a 3rd grade education but had a huge amount of common sense (horse sense). At one time my company was hiring West Point graduates for administrative jobs, I had dealings with two that were scary smart when it came to book learning but didn’t have enough common sense to come in out of a shower of rain. They both were eventually let go because they didn’t have enough “sense” to do their jobs. It concerns me about many of today’s younger generation, if it is not on a computer or there is not an apt for it, they are lost. I guess I just showed my ignorance! Have any of you every heard the song about the preacher named Carol Lee by Porter Wagoner? It has a lot to do with education.
Oh my stars! That was the most beautiful version of Noel I have ever heard. Paul sings so beautifully and Pap’s tenor was amazing. I understand why you get all teared up hearing it. I didn’t know this song was the oldest Christmas song known. I don’t exactly agree with those who said it was written by an uneducated person. This person may not have had a earthly education, but their education was of a higher calling. That person had a Godly education and that is the most powerful education one can have. I’m still working on mine. 🙂 Thank you for sharing the interesting fact about the song Noel and the beautiful singing of Paul with Pap. It starts this rainy Sunday morning with a longing for our Lord as I get ready to go to church. Praise God in the highest for sending His Son Jesus, the Christ, our Lord. Happy Sunday y’all!
You were right, Tipper—the song was just beautiful. That was an awesome way to begin my Sunday morning. Thank you and Merry Christmas!!
Thank you for the history behind The First Noel. It is interesting that this song is so old, but I’ve always enjoyed singing it and listening to it.
I once had a student who was born on Christmas. They named her Holly. The family name … wait for it … was BUSH!
Beautiful!
The song Noel sung by pap and Paul is wow
Beautiful.
beautiful
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful is one word to describe, but it doesn’t seem enough. We so look forward to any and all you share. Prayers for Granny and God Bless you all.
Gods blessings to the people of Appalachia
The First Noel is one of my favorite Christmas carols.