FREE CHRISTMAS CAROLING SONGBOOK

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Tips for playing "The First Noel": This carol's a little tricky because of an occasional quick change to a G chord on the third beat. Keep playing your strumming pattern as if your fretting hand was oblivious of the chord change: You'll be playing your C or F chord for the first two beats (playing a bass note on the first, then a downstrum on the second), and then a final downstrum on the G chord to finish the measure. If this is too hard, or sounds choppy, you can just ignore that G chord altogether. It still sounds good, and eliminating jumpy chord changes will keep the song peaceful. No waking the baby Jesus!

The First Noel

Traditional

Intro: / F - - / Em - - / F - G / C - - /

        C       G       F              C

The first Noel the angel did say

             F                  Em              / F - G /     C

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

      C                 G            F                 C

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

          F               Em          / F - G /   C

On a cold winters night that was so     deep

         C        G          F        C

They looked up and saw a star

            F        Em     / F - G /     C

Shining in the East, beyond them far

       C       G            F            C

And to the earth it gave good light

        F         Em             / F - G / C

And so it continued both day and night

Chorus

         C            G    F                C

This star drew nigh to the northwest

        F                  Em     / F - G /     C

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest

          C       G     F           C

And there it did stop and stay

          F            Em          / F - G /   C

Right over the place where Jesus       lay

Chorus

         C        G              F              C

Then enter'd in there Wise Men three

       F       Em    / F - G /   C

Full rev'rently on bended knee

       C             G       F            C

And offered there in His presence

           F          Em          / F - G /   C

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense

Chorus, End on last C