Home - Christmas Lyrics Table of Contents
For the sheet music to this carol, visit the main page for I Saw Three Ships. There are several different keys available, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your range. See the Christmas song lyrics table of contents for the words to more carols.
Like several of the traditional carols that have been sung for many centuries, I Saw Three Ships has some archaic language that is no longer used in our everyday conversation. For example, in the last stanza are the words “And let us all rejoice amain!” Amain means with great haste, so the line encourages us to celebrate immediately! Some more modern versions of the carol substitute “again” for amain.
New! - Sing this song along with piano! I Saw Three Ships piano accompaniment parts are now available to accompany all instruments and singers, in free, printable PDF format.
Select the image below for a colorful printable PDF of the lyrics to 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 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 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.
Printable PDF of the lyrics to I Saw Three Ships:
Christmas Music Books • Two Happy Bears • Days Till Christmas • Newsletter
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Table of Contents for the Christmas Song Lead Sheets:
Angels We Have Heard on High
Auld Lang Syne
Away In a Manger
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Deck the Hall
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
The First Noel
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Good King Wenceslas
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Here We Come A-Wassailing
The Holly and the Ivy
I Saw Three Ships
In Dulci Jubilo
In the Bleak Midwinter
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Jingle Bells (short easy version)
Jingle Bells (full version)
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Joy to the World
O Christmas Tree
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Patapan
Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable
Silent Night
Toyland
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Up on the Housetop
We Three Kings
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?
More Music and Educational Materials by Kyle Coughlin:
Learn about rhythm and improve your skills: Rhythm-In-Music.com
Free online metronomes that speak the beat: MusicAllTheTime.com
Sleigh Bell Metronome
Free blank sheet music paper: Music-Paper.com
Clarinet fingering charts and instruction: TheClarinet.net
Kyle Coughlin’s Publications