Rosie jumped onto the nearest heavenly cloud and sang the Christmas song the way she remembered it — confidently, joyfully, and adorably, but not entirely correctly.
The First No-tell
The First Noel as misunderstood by Miss Rosie.
Actual lyrics in gray.
The first No‑tell the angels did not say
The first Noel the angels did say
Was too surely poor in the shepherds’ way.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they stay, all weeping with sheep,
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
With colds on a winter’s night they sure did not sleep.
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep
No‑tell, No‑tell, No‑tell, but I tell —
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King for He Is Real
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a far
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the weast, behind them was a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
To the earth it was a great big light
It gave great light to the earth
And so it complained both day and night
And so it continued both day and night
No‑tell, No‑tell, No‑tell, but I tell —
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King for He Is Real
Born is the King of Israel
And by the white of that same star,
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men were country stars.
Three wise men came from country far
To peek if a King was in their tents,
To seek for a King was their intent
And follow the stars wherever they wents.
And to follow the star wherever it went
No‑tell, No‑tell, No‑tell, but I tell —
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King for He Is Real
Born is the King of Israel
This star threw night to the north‑west
The star drew nigh to the northwest
For Bethlehem it took its best
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest
And right there it did shop and say
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
No‑tell, No‑tell, No‑tell, but I tell —
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King for He Is Real
Born is the King of Israel
Then entered in those Wise Men’s tree,
Then entered in those wise men three
But it fell on Reverend’s knees.
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there his presents —
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and more Frank’s innocence.
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
No‑tell, No‑tell, No‑tell, but I tell —
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King for He Is Real
Born is the King of Israel
Rosie: "And he is real."
The First Noel (public domain).
Rosie’s version: entirely her own fault.
Lady Rose
