I Saw Three Ships

The origin of I Saw Three Ships is widely debated, though we know for sure that it was a medieval English folk song. Initially, it didn’t feature any references to Joseph or Mary.

The truth is, the song’s original meaning is rather gruesome, even though very remotely related to the nativity story.

But over time, the lyrics morphed into a cheerful celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Scholars suggest multiple I Saw Three Ships interpretations, but most of them make the same crucial mistake – take the song literally.

Like any religious hymn, I Saw Three Ships unfolds its real meaning only after you study its symbols.

Lyrics

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, 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 let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
And let us all rejoice as sing
On Christmas Day in the morning
And let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
And let us all rejoice as sing
On Christmas Day in the morning

Song Origin & Versions

Although the earliest printed version of the song dates to the 17th century in Derbyshire, England, I Saw Three Ships is much older than that. It was initially known as I Sat on a Sunny Bank and likely originated in the Cornwall area.

The lyrics of this folk song were written by wandering minstrels. Originally, the lyrics narrated about three ships that carried the remnants of the Three Wise Men to Cologne, though over centuries, they morphed numerous times, featuring various Biblical figures.

Dozens of I Saw Three Ships versions were collected in the south of England by folklorists in the 1910s. Two decades later, American folk song collector James Madison Carpenter found several more historical records of the song.

The most popular version of the carol that is typically sung today mentions Joseph and Mary traveling on a ship in the sea. It appeared in Birmingham in about 1820s.

Geographical Discrepancies

I Saw Three Ships lyrics are simple and repetitive, but they get more interesting the more you look into them. Religious hymns aren’t to be taken literally, and I Saw Three Ships is no exception.

The most common nowadays version of the song narrates about the Virgin Mary and Joseph’s journey on one of the three ships. This may sound alright at first, but the more you strive to unfold the story, the more confusing it gets.

Let’s put aside the fact that the nativity story never mentioned sailing and focus on geography. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem that is located south of Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph, in turn, originated from Nazareth, about 200 miles north of Bethlehem. The closest to Bethlehem body of water is the Dead Sea, about 60 miles east of the village.

When King Herod ordered his men to kill all boys in Bethlehem to find Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to avoid this gruesome fate.

To get from Bethlehem to any place in Egypt, Mary and Joseph would have to travel by land, as the sea journey would be extremely time inefficient.

In other words, it’s hard to understand why Mary and Joseph would travel by ships, let alone three ships.

Although the song was first published in the 17th century, that ancient version’s structure and wording suggest it originated much earlier than that.

This and the fact that it was written by traveling minstrels can explain such poor geography.

Furthermore, Mary certainly did not arrive in Bethlehem the morning of giving birth to Jesus. This contradicts the entire nativity story.

So, John Camden Hotten, in his book Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern, published in 1905, noted: “the carol has always been a great favorite with the illiterate, and from its quaintness will be found not displeasing to the more refined.”

Relation to Wenceslaus I

The modern version of I Saw Three Ships doesn’t make much sense geography-wise. But since the song’s lyrics morphed numerous times over the centuries, we may find the answer to its meaning in previous versions.

Some scholars suggest that the song’s lyrics refer to Wenceslaus II, the 13th century King of Bohemia. This isn’t the good King Wenceslaus from the 10th century mentioned in the eponymous carol but rather his successor.

Wenceslaus II owned a coat of arms with three boats. If you’re looking for more links between his figure and the song, look no further – there are none. This theory is widely regarded as lacking any evidence but remains popular online.

Camels of the Magi

A more substantial theory of the meaning of I Saw Three Ships states that the ships are an allegorical name for camels of the Three Wise Men or Magi, also often referred to as “ships of the desert.”

According to the nativity story, the Magi came to Bethlehem from the east, likely from the regions of India, Persia, or Arabia. Since they would have traveled through deserts, this allegory makes perfect sense.

One point against this theory is that the lyrics state the Magi arrived in Bethlehem on Christmas morning, December 25, by Julian calendar.

But the widely accepted version is that Magi came to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem on January 6, the Epiphany.

One may argue that Epiphany is only the officially accepted date of the Magi’s arrival to Bethlehem. The Bible never explicitly mentions the actual date, nor it states how old Jesus was when the Magi brought him gifts.

Still, Magi certainly didn’t arrive in Bethlehem on Christmas morning, right after Jesus was born. Some time has passed since that moment, be it twelve days or two years. So, despite seeming decently logical at first sight, this theory isn’t perfect either.

Magi Relicts

The most popular interpretation of I Saw Three Ships states that the ships carried the remnants of the Magi to the Cologne Cathedral in Germany in the 12th century.

The church was meant to become a glorious reliquary of the kings, and today is the house for the Shrine of the Three Wise Men.

Although the cathedral isn’t even remotely close to the sea not it is close to Israel, it’s located near a river. This may explain the reason the remnants were carried by boats.

Interestingly, the remnants most likely don’t belong to the Magi. They were allegedly brought to Roman Emperor Constantine by his mother from a trip to the Holy Land.

However, as we know from the legend about King Herod, the Magi left the Holy Land and returned to the east, so they were unlikely to die in Jerusalem.

In 334, Constantine donated the bones to the Bishop of Milan. They remained in Italy until 1184, when they were stolen by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I and taken to the Cologne Cathedral.

In other words, while the remnants may be fake, the history about them being enshrined in the Cologne Cathedral is true, and I Saw Three Ships might refer to this very event.

Meaning & Symbolism

I Saw Three Ships’ original version narrating about the delivery of the Magi remnants to Cologne Cathedral was merely a song about a historical event that didn’t carry any deep message.

However, the modern version of I Saw Three Ships referring to Mary and Joseph’s journey, often along with an already born Jesus, commemorates the birth of our Savior and encourages all Christians to rejoice.

Some suggest that the ships are entirely metaphorical. The boat is one of the earliest symbols in Christianity that represents the Christian church itself. The boat of faith allegorically reaches a safe haven with Christian souls onboard.

Why boat, you may wonder? Scholars believe the symbol is derived from Noah’s ark or the story of Christ protecting Peter and his apostles in a stormy sea. The boat represents safety and hope.

Furthermore, the central seating area of the Catholic church is called the nave, which originates from Latin for ship, and the mast of boats, especially those made in ancient times, visually resembles a cross.

Thus, the ships carrying Joseph and Mary in the song may symbolize the coming of Christ to the world rather than narrate an actual event.

Interestingly enough, the boat may also represent our last journey, the end of the voyage of life.

This symbolism makes perfect sense in relation to the original version of the song, where the ships carry the remnants of the Three Wise Men – but that’s my personal speculation.

Song Recordings

Like most popular Christmas songs, I Saw Three Ships has been recorded by numerous artists and mentioned in mass culture. One of the best-known recordings was created by Sting in 1997 for his compilation album A Very Special Christmas 3.

Other famous recordings of I Saw Three Ships include Bruce Cockburn’s in 1993, Glen Campbell’s in 1995, and Keith Emerson’s instrumental rock adaptation of 1988. Another rock version was released by Jon Anderson in 1985 on the album 3 Ships.

The Muppets referenced the song in the 1987 holiday special A Muppet Family Christmas. The instrumental version of the song even appeared in Teletubbies.

Sources