I Saw Three Ships

Summary


"I Saw Three Ships" is a traditional Christmas carol that follows the vision of three ships sailing into Bethlehem on Christmas morning, carrying Christ and His Lady. The poem builds from a simple sighting at sea into a crescendo of universal celebration — bells ringing, angels singing, and all souls on earth joining in joyful chorus. Each verse repeats its bright refrain, creating a rhythmic, ceremonial mood that draws the reader deeper into the spirit of Christmas rejoicing.

Read Online

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 Saviour Christ and His Lady,
⁠On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Our Saviour 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.

Three ships sailing to Bethlehem on Christmas morning, illustration for "I Saw Three Ships"

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 amain,
⁠On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Then let us all rejoice amain,
⁠On Christmas day in the morning.

Credits

Unknown writer is the attributed author of this traditional English Christmas carol, which dates back to at least the 17th century. It was first published in William Sandys' collection *Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern* in 1833. The carol's imagery of ships sailing to Bethlehem is thought to echo a medieval legend that relics of the Nativity were transported by sea to Cologne.