104 I Saw Three Ships
I
As I sat under a sycamore tree,
—A sycamore tree, a sycamore tree,
I looked me out upon the sea
On Christ’s Sunday at morn.
II
I saw three ships a-sailing there,
—A-sailing there, a-sailing there,
Jesu, Mary and Joseph they bare
On Christ’s Sunday at morn.
III
Joseph did whistle and Mary did sing,
—Mary did sing, Mary did sing,
And all the bells on earth did ring
For joy our Lord was born.
IV
O they sail’d in to Bethlehem!
—To Bethlehem, to Bethlehem;
Saint Michael was the sterèsman,
Saint John sate in the horn625.
V
And all the bells on earth did ring
—On earth did ring, on earth did ring:
‘Welcome be thou Heaven’s King,
On Christ’s Sunday at morn!’
Footnotes
625 horn = prow.