I Saw Three Ships

Christmas Carols Explained, #9

We’re giving this arrangement to the TabCats. My research attributes this song to English origin, although the tune itself might be an even older sailor’s song, so the sea shanty craze of a few years ago now has a Christmas carol to champion it.

Some interpretations of the lyrics point to three ships sailing to Bethlehem, which is hilarious, because it’s in the middle of the desert, so maybe it’s a really tortured metaphor for the Wise Men or the shepherds. There are elemental similarities but beyond that, the roots and meaning of “I Saw Three Ships” are as foggy as the waters upon which they sailed. Oh, that’s good, I’m giving myself style points for that one…