Description

Voicing: SATB choir, div, a cappella

Level: 5

Duration: 3 minutes

To see perusal score, please contact Jocelyn.

I Saw Three Ships is a lively, joyful arrangement of the popular Christmas tune. Each verse sung by the choir has its own character, and often its own key! This challenging arrangement is appropriate for upper-level college and professional choirs. It was commissioned and premiered by The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, under the direction of Matthew Culloton.

Text

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?

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day in the morning.

And he did whistle and she did sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day.
And he did whistle and she did sing,
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 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.

And all the angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us rejoice, hallelujah.
On Christmas day in the morning.

And he did whistle and she did sing,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
For joy that our Savior was born,
On Christmas day in the morning.