I Saw Three Ships
Encyclopedia
"I Saw Three Ships" is a traditional and popular Christmas carol
from England
. A variant of its parent tune "Greensleeves
", the earliest printed version of "I Saw Three Ships" is from the 17th century, possibly Derbyshire
, and was also published by William B. Sandys
in 1833. The lyrics mention the ships sailing into Bethlehem, but the nearest body of water is the Dead Sea
about 20 miles away. The reference to three ships is thought to originate in the three ships that bore the purported relics of the Biblical magi
to Cologne Cathedral
in the 12th century.
appears in The Oxford Book of Carols. The Carols for Choirs
series of carol books features an arrangement of the carol by Sir David Willcocks. Organist Simon Preston
and former conductor of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
, Sir Philip Ledger
, have also written arrangements that the choir have performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
in recent years. This carol is also featured in the musical Caroline, or Change
, but as a counterpoint. Adapted by Jon Schmidt on Jon Schmidt Christmas album. John Renbourn
has arranged it (in a rather free adaptation) for guitar. The song appears on Nat King Cole's 1960 LP "The Magic Of Christmas" (l/k/a "The Christmas Song"), arranged by Ralph Carmichael.
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. A variant of its parent tune "Greensleeves
Greensleeves
"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song and tune, a ground of the form called a romanesca.A broadside ballad by this name was registered at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580 as "A New Northern Dittye of the Lady Greene Sleeves". It then appears in the surviving A Handful of...
", the earliest printed version of "I Saw Three Ships" is from the 17th century, possibly Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and was also published by William B. Sandys
William B. Sandys
William B. Sandys , was an English solicitor, member of the Percy Society, fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and remembered for his publication Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern , a collection of seasonal carols that Sandys had gathered and also apparently improvised...
in 1833. The lyrics mention the ships sailing into Bethlehem, but the nearest body of water is the Dead Sea
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
about 20 miles away. The reference to three ships is thought to originate in the three ships that bore the purported relics of the Biblical magi
Biblical Magi
The Magi Greek: μάγοι, magoi), also referred to as the Wise Men, Kings, Astrologers, or Kings from the East, were a group of distinguished foreigners who were said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh...
to Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Cologne, Germany. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is renowned monument of German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and is a World Heritage Site...
in the 12th century.
Arrangements
An arrangement by Martin ShawMartin Shaw (composer)
Martin Edward Fallas Shaw OBE, FRCM, DMus was an English composer, conductor and theatre producer...
appears in The Oxford Book of Carols. The Carols for Choirs
Carols for Choirs
Carols for Choirs, published by Oxford University Press, edited by Sir David Willcocks with Reginald Jacques and John Rutter, is the most widely-used source of carols in the British Anglican tradition, and among British choral societies.There are four books in the original series and a portmanteau...
series of carol books features an arrangement of the carol by Sir David Willcocks. Organist Simon Preston
Simon Preston
Simon John Preston CBE is an English organist, conductor, and composer.- Early life :He attended the Canford School in Wimborne in Dorset. Originally a chorister at King's College, Cambridge, he studied the organ with C. H...
and former conductor of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge is one of today's most accomplished and renowned representatives of the great British choral tradition. It was created by King Henry VI, who founded King's College, Cambridge in 1441, to provide daily singing in his Chapel, which remains the main task of the...
, Sir Philip Ledger
Philip Ledger
Sir Philip Ledger CBE is a British classical musician and academic. He is best-known for his tenure as director of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge between 1973 and 1982 and as director of Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama from 1982 until his retirement in 2001...
, have also written arrangements that the choir have performed at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Nine Lessons and Carols
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format for a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas...
in recent years. This carol is also featured in the musical Caroline, or Change
Caroline, or Change
Caroline, or Change is a through-composed musical with book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and score by Jeanine Tesori that combines spirituals, blues, Motown, classical music, and Jewish klezmer and folk music....
, but as a counterpoint. Adapted by Jon Schmidt on Jon Schmidt Christmas album. John Renbourn
John Renbourn
John Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
has arranged it (in a rather free adaptation) for guitar. The song appears on Nat King Cole's 1960 LP "The Magic Of Christmas" (l/k/a "The Christmas Song"), arranged by Ralph Carmichael.
Other versions
- "I saw three ships come sailing by on New Year's Day": a 19th century version, which mentions three pretty girls in the ship entertaining at a wedding held on New Year's Day.
External links
- History, lyrics and sheet music at The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- Free sheet music for piano, voice and SATB from Cantorion.org
- Full lyrics