One of the most enchanting Christmas carols we have, I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In is a classic favorite among carolers. After years of being sung by choirs and individuals alike, there are many different variations of the popular song. However, no matter how many revisions there might be, the influence and enthusiasm for this song cannot be understated.
Just like most Christmas carols, the point of the song and lyrics are to lift the spirits of the singer and listeners and bring joy to the holiday season. An English collector of folk songs named Cecil Sharp has discovered that there are many different versions of the tune. Throughout the British Isles alone, different variations have been discovered.
The origins of I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In are unknown. Many people assume that it is a children’s Christmas carol due to its simplicity. However, bigger questions are raised when you try to analyze how three ships could be coming to visit the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. After all, Bethlehem is landlocked? How could three ships be coming to visit him on Christmas morning? The answer to these questions is found when the song is analyzed to interpret the symbols of the three large ships themselves.
This conventional song has long established itself as a top choice among Christmas carols. The song is thought to be an English carol from the Victorian era of Christmas tunes. Although the title sounds like the beginning of a nursery rhyme and thus more of a children’s carol, the song has a strong message of joy and happiness during the holiday season that everyone can appreciate, adult and child alike.
This English Christmas carol was published for the first time in 1666. During this time in England, the British were completely fascinated by the sea and sailing. The references to sailing during this time period would have contributed to the immense popularity of the Christmas carol. Since this was the age of Exploration and Discovery, comparing the birth of Jesus Christ to ships coming into port would have been easily understood, conveying the extreme excitement that one should have felt on the day of His birth.
I Saw Three Ships
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?
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither 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 Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven 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 again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Learn how to play I Saw Three Ships with friendly instrumental guitar arrangements.
Ships of The Desert
Initially, the three ships were meant to represent the three wise men that came to visit Jesus on his birth. However, in later years, the three ships came to represent the Holy Family themselves. A common representation of camels is a phrase called “ships of the desert” so it is an easy association between the three ships and three wise men who would have ridden on camels to visit the birth of Jesus Christ.
Another analysis of this song comes from an analysis of the line in I Corinthians 13:13 of the King James Bible, which reads “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” For some, this line is to represent the grouping of three that means so much in the Bible in general and in the birth of Christ.