53
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In
This old Christmas carol — Phillips, in his Carols, Their Origin,
Music, and Connection xvith Mystery Plays 48-50, gives a nine-
stanza text with the remark that it is "probably of fifteenth-century
origin" — has been reported from tradition in Hertfordshire (ECS
III), Massachusetts (FSONE 284-5), New York City (JAFL v
326), West Virginia (FSMEU 163), Kentucky (JAFL li 17),
and Michigan (BSSM 168).^ Our collection contains unfortunately
only the following fragment.
'On Christmas Day.' Without date or indication of source among Dr.
Brown's manuscripts, labeled by him "Carol."
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53
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In
'On Christmas Day.' Sung by anonymous singer. Recorded ms score, but no
date or place given.
For melodic relationship cf. ***OBC 36; *AFSC, measures 1-2 and 5-6.
Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure, ababi (2,2,2,2) =
aai (4,4).
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.