I Saw Three Ships - Lryics, History, and Great Performances

I Saw Three Ships is a Christmas Carol that dates back to the 1600s in England. It is often considered a child's song due to its repetition. I Saw Three Ships is a joyous song celebrating Christ's arrival, but the lyrics often leave people scratching their heads.

Where are there ships in the Christmas story?

Wasn't Bethlehem landlocked?

"Christmas Carols, An­cient and Mo­dern", by William Sandys, 1833:

Lyrics to I Saw Three Ships

As was published in 1833 in Christmas Carols, An­cient and Mo­dern

By William Sandys

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day?

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas day in the morning?

Our Savior Christ and His lady,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

Our Savior Christ and His lady,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those ships all three,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day?

Pray whither sailed those ships all three,

On Christmas day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

O they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on Earth shall ring,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

And all the bells on Earth shall ring,

On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in Heav'n shall sing,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

And all the angels in Heav'n shall sing,

On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on Earth shall sing,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

And all the souls on Earth shall sing,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

Then let us rejoice amain,

On Christmas day in the morning.

How could that be?

How could a song about something as absurd as three ships sailing into Bethlehem even come about, let alone become a popular Christmas Carol hundreds of years later? I think many have asked themselves this very question.

I Saw Three Ships originates in England somewhere in the 1600's. England, at that time, was absolutely fascinated with the sea. Sailors who had been around the world returned to England with their marvelous tales. England was stretching its arms to the Americas, Africa, India, and beyond.

The song expresses happiness and excitement about the coming of the Christ child, much like the excitement of a ship coming in to port. It is this happiness and joy that makes the song so popular.

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Ritson, in his "Introduction to Scotch songs," vol. I, gives the following lines as sung during the Christmas holidays about the middle of the sixteenth century, which bear a similarity to this carol:

There comes a ship far sailing then,

Saint Michael was the stieres-man;

Saint John sate in the horn:

Our Lord harped, our Lady sang,

And all the bells of heaven they rang,

On Christ's sonday at morn.

Did you know that camels are referred to as "ships of the desert"? They were the main means of carrying freight, and by such held as much importance as ships did for trade in other geographical regions.

So, is it possible that the three ships sailing in were three camels? Since we don't really know the origins of this song, I suppose anything is possible.

Historians love to debate the symbolism found within the words of the Christmas hymn, "I Saw Three Ships." Do the seafaring vessels represent Columbus's voyage? Or are they indirect references to: the Holy Trinity, the three Wise Men, or I Corinthians 13:13 (King James Version, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity")?

Passing through the secular community, even going back to the Victorian era was this similar nursery rhyme:

I saw three ships come sailing by

Come sailing by, come sailing by;

I saw three ships come sailing by

On New Year's Day in the morning.

And what do you think was in them then?

Was in them then, was in them then?

And what do you think was in them then,

On New Year's Day in the morning?

Three pretty girls we in them then,

Were in them then, were in them then;

Three pretty girls we in them then,

On New Year's Day in the morning.

And one could whistle, and one could sing

And one could play on the violin -

Such joy there was at my wedding,

On New Year's Day in the morning.

(The Nursery Rhyme Book, 1897)

In the 1600s, when there was important news, the bells were rung to notify the community to gather. Even though this song doesn't delve much into the Christmas story, it does say a few things. It says that Jesus came, that it was important - enough to ring all the bells on earth, and it says that this is something to be happy about - "And all the angels in Heav'n shall sing", "and all the souls on Earth shall sing".

And all the bells on Earth shall ring!