Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol

Subject: RE: Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 11:12 AM

I've always liked this particular carol, and have assumed the "ships" were figurative rather than literal. Since imagry is frequently used in poetry and songs it has raised few questions. The Christmas story has been retold numerous time with imagry suiting specific cultures or groups.

Subject: RE: Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 03:04 AM

Thanks. Sorry I missed it.

Subject: RE: Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 04:26 PM

There's no evidence that the song is anything like old enough to have anything to do with Cathars. The story of the Marys' sea journey to Southern Europe was quite widespread. Also suggested have been thematic links with German 'ship carols' and the story of the Three Kings of Cologne (see, for more on the latter, Anne G Gilchrist, The Three Kings of Cologne (I saw Three Ships), in Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, vol V, number 1, 1946, pp 31-40).

Various notes from the older carol collections can be seen at Hymns and Carols of Christmas: I Saw Three Ships. The link may not work in some older browsers due to the way stylesheets have been implemented.

As Q says, further information is at the older thread, where any further discussion should probably go.

Subject: RE: Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:56 PM

(OK, can't spell threadid) 54593: Three Ships

Subject: RE: Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:53 PM

Apparently little can be added to the few comments in thread 54593: Three Ships
I have added a rhyme there from the Opies.

Subject: Origins: I saw 3 ships. Carol
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 09 Jan 05 - 03:05 PM

Anybody know the background to
this one


It has some unusual lines for a carol, not least reference to ships sailing into landlocked Bethlehem. Poetic licence?
"His lady" is an unusual way to describe The Virgin Mary.
The Cathars believed that Mary Magdalene took ship to France. Any connection?
Keith.