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.

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 to Bethlehem
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
O, they sailed to 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 amain!
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
Then let us all rejoice amain!
On Christmas Day in the morning.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of the sixth carol printed on a 19th century British broadside titled, The Evergreen. Carols For Christmas Holidays, beginning: As I sat on a sunny bank... published by J. Catnach (London) sometime between 1813 and 1838, and archived at the Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, shelfmark: Harding B 7(30) ....####

Collected by Barry Taylor. A variant was recorded by The Irish Descendants (The Gift, 2005).

See more Newfoundland and Labrador Christmas songs.