We Three Kings
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We Three Kings of Orient Are is a Christmas carol (technically an Epiphany carol) written in 1857 by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the words and the music as part of a Christmas pageant for the General Theological Seminary in New York City. It first appeared in his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.
Hopkins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1820, and died in Hudson, New York in 1891. He was a clergyman, author, book illustrator, stained glass window designer, and editor of the Church Journal out of New York.
Lyrics
The lyrics (now in the public domain) are as follows:
''We three kings of Orient are
''Bearing gifts we traverse afar
''Field and fountain, moor and mountain
''Following yonder star
''O Star of wonder, star of night
''Star with royal beauty bright
''Westward leading, still proceeding
''Guide us to thy Perfect Light
''Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
''Gold I bring to crown Him again
''King forever, ceasing never
''Over us all to rein
''O Star of wonder, star of night
''Star with royal beauty bright
''Westward leading, still proceeding
''Guide us to Thy perfect light
''Frankincense to offer have I
''Incense owns a Deity nigh
''Pray'r and praising, all men raising
''Worship Him, God most high
''O Star of wonder, star of night
''Star with royal beauty bright
''Westward leading, still proceeding
''Guide us to Thy perfect light
''Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
''Breathes of life of gathering gloom
''Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
''Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
''O Star of wonder, star of night
''Star with royal beauty bright
''Westward leading, still proceeding
''Guide us to Thy perfect light
''Glorious now behold Him arise
''King and God and Sacrifice
''Alleluia, Alleluia
''Earth to heav'n replies
''O Star of wonder, star of night
''Star with royal beauty bright
''Westward leading, still proceeding
''Guide us to Thy perfect light
Parodies
In the United Kingdom, it is common for school children to sing the song with alternative lyrics, such as :
''We Three Kings of Orient Are,
''One in a taxi, one in a car,
''One on a scooter, beeping his hooter,
Smoking a fat cigar.
In Liverpool, there is (or used to be) a version which went:
''We Three Kings of Hamilton Square,
''Selling knickers, two pence a pair,
''So fantastic, no elastic,
Not very safe to wear!
This version is also used elsewhere in the country with alternate lyrics such as "Leicester Square" and "Buy your granny a pair".
Other versions / Covers
In 2004 English pop singer Nicolas [link] used the melody for his song "daffodil", included as a b-side-only track on his single "From here".
See also
References
The Book of World Famous Music Classical, Popular and Folk by James Fuld (1966)External links
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