{"slug": "the-first-noel", "title": "The First Noel", "first_line": "The first Noel the angel did say Was", "author_source": "Traditional English carol", "foot": "iambic", "meter": {"pattern": [8, 8, 8, 8], "doubled": false, "refrain": false, "alleluia": false, "irregular": false}, "topics": ["Angels", "Assurance", "Blood", "Brotherhood"], "scripture": ["Isaiah 9:2", "Luke 2:8-15", "Micah 5:2", "1 Corinthians 15:55-57"], "provenance": {"layer": "text", "source": "oh-source-1931", "source_kind": "open_encoding", "pd_basis": "pub_pre_1931", "pd_evidence": "Open Hymnal X:70; all components published pre-1931 (latest year 1911).", "pd_jurisdictions": {"US": true}}, "stanzas": {"1": {"syllabified": "The first No -- el the an -- gel did say Was to cer -- tain poor shep -- herds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay tend -- ing their sheep, On a cold win -- ter's night that was so deep.", "prose": ["The first Noel the angel did say", "Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;", "In fields where they lay tending their sheep,", "On a cold winter's night that was so deep."]}, "2": {"syllabified": "They look -- ed up and saw a star Shin -- ing in the east, be -- yond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it con -- tin -- ued both day and night.", "prose": ["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."]}, "3": {"syllabified": "And by the light of that same star Three Wise Men came from coun -- try far; To seek for a King was their in -- tent, And to fol -- low the star wher -- ev -- er it went.", "prose": ["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."]}, "4": {"syllabified": "This star drew nigh to the north -- west, Ov -- er Beth -- le -- hem it took its rest; And there it did both stop and stay, Right ov -- er the place where Je -- sus lay.", "prose": ["This star drew nigh to the northwest,", "Over Bethlehem it took its rest;", "And there it did both stop and stay,", "Right over the place where Jesus lay."]}, "5": {"syllabified": "Then did they know as -- sur -- ed -- ly With -- in that house the King did lie; One en -- tered it them for to see, And found the Babe in pov -- er -- ty.", "prose": ["Then did they know assuredly", "Within that house the King did lie;", "One entered it them for to see,", "And found the Babe in poverty."]}}, "refrain": {"syllabified": "No -- el, No -- el, No -- el, No -- el, Born is the King of Is -- ra -- el.", "prose": ["Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,", "Born is the King of Israel."]}, "license": "The hymn texts and tunes are in the public domain; per-layer provenance is recorded on each record."}