Danske Julesange

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, 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.

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.

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Om julesangen I Saw Three Ships

Sangen rejser et oplagt spørgsmål: hvordan kan tre skibe sejle ind i Bethlehem, når byen ligger omkring 30 kilometer fra nærmeste kyst og godt 700 meter over havet? Der findes flere forklaringer. Den mest udbredte peger på, at relikvier, der blev anset for at være de hellige tre kongers, i 1100-tallet blev fragtet ad søvejen til Kölnerdomen – og at “de tre skibe” oprindeligt handlede om den rejse. Andre mener, at skibene simpelthen er et billede på de vise mænds kameler, som ørkenens skibe.

Sangen er traditionel engelsk og kendes fra tryk allerede i 1666, med rødder i Derbyshire. Den findes i mange varianter, hvor både destinationen og passagererne skifter fra version til version. Uanset hvilken man synger, er melodien den samme lystige, vuggende folkemelodi, der gør sangen til en af de nemmeste at få børn til at synge med på.

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