Tune Req: songs about the magi

Subject: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 05:56 PM

The gang wants to get together on Jan 1st (National Pointless Day) and play music, especially music for Epiphany. We're talking the magi (wise men, three kings) here.

Does anybody know the names of any songs about them besides those I already know, which are:

We three kings of Orient are

The Golden Carol

Late at night, upon a great highway, I saw three kings of the East come riding

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: open mike
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 07:08 PM

Darryl Purpose has a c.d. called the gift of the Magi.
and O'Henry has a story about it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 07:29 PM

Riding Out Across The Desert see page 5 of the PDF eucharist booklet

Not quite a song, but there is T S Eliot's Journey of the Magi

Nigel

Subject: Lyr Add: THREE KINGS FROM PERSIAN LANDS AFAR
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 08:21 PM

Here are two you might like.

1 THREE KINGS FROM PERSIAN LANDS AFAR

Three Kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

    How brightly shines the morning star!
    With grace and truth from heaven afar
    Our Jesse tree now bloweth.

The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Mary�s child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

    Of Jacob�s stem and David�s line,
    For thee, my Bridegroom, King divine,
    My soul with love o�erfloweth.

Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The Kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.

    Thy word, Jesu, Inly feeds us,
    Rightly leads us, Life bestowing.
    Praise, O praise such love o�erflowing.

2 Three Kings in Great Glory

Three kings in great glory of horses and men,
Of horses and men,
In haste come a riding o'er mountain and fen,
O'er mountain and fen;
For their King is awaiting, and lo they would bring,
And lo they would bring,
The best of their treasure to give to their King,
To give to their King.

Poor shepherds lie huddled to-night on the plain,
To-night on the plain,
Their silly sheep guarding from danger and plain,
From danger and plain,
For the wolves howl around them, and bitter the air,
And bitter the air,
That blows o'er the snowfield as frozen and bare,
All frozen and bare.

Come monarchs, and enter, your Monarch is here,
Your Monarch is here,
Doff crowns, on the bare sode fall down and revere,
Fall down and revere;
For the best of you can offer is little I trow,
Is little, I trow,
To the Lord God of Heav'n you're a-kneeling to now,
A-kneeling to now.

    Come, shepherds, and fear not, He will not despise,
    He will not dispise
    The gifts that you bring Him, tho' rude in men's eyes,
    Tho' rude in men's eyes.
    See, He's not arrayed here in purple and gold,
    In purple and gold,
    God's Lamb lies as helpless as lamb of your fold,
    As lamb of your fold.

    Then simple and gentle, and foolish and wise,
    And foolish and wise,
    Come adore the great Lord of the earth and skies,
    The earth and the skies;
    Who deigns for us all on this night to be born,
    This night to be born,
    This night fairer than mid-summer morn,
    Than mid-summer morn.


And of course there is also The First Noel, which has them as Wise Men rather than as Kings, which is more in keeping with the Gospel account.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 08:14 AM

"Die heiligen drei Könige mit ihrem Stern" by the famous German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 08:14 AM

When You and I Were Young, Magi
Little Magi
(Sorry. My daughter's name is Maggie. Couldn't esist.)

Subject: Lyr Add: WE BE WISEMEN THREE
From: MMario
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 08:52 AM

Try this - to the tune of "We be Soldiers Three"



We be Wisemen Three
Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie
Lately come forth from out of the East
In search of the Babe in the Manger

Gifts we bear and gladly bring
Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie
Gold is first, to crown Him a king
the Babe that is laid in the manger

Frankincense to offer have we
Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie
For the Son of God and Virgin Marie
The Babe that is laid in the manger

Myrrh is third and last of the three
Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie
Foretelling His death, though sinless He be
the Babe that is laid in the manger

Sing Hosannah Earth, Sky and Sea
Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie
For Born today in Beth'lem city
The Babe that is laid in the manger.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 11:14 AM

Thanks, everyone, for these ideas.

I've found two since my request:

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
What Star is This?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 11:19 AM

There was one we sang at school that had the first line 'at break of day, as I went on my way, I met three kings and they were Eastern sages'... but I'm buggered if I can remember anything else about it.

Putting 'eastern sages' into a search engine comes up with another song, not the one I remember but a good looking song all the same.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 11:41 AM

LTS: That reminds me of:
"Eastern sages, monarchs three
Come with gifts in great plenty
Worship Christ on bended knee
Cum virginae Maria

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 12:17 PM

In my grade 6 school music textbook, Music Around the World (Silver Burdett/California State Series), there was a song called March of the Three Kings. It was set to Bizet's l'Arlesienne suite #2.

Unfortunately all my Silver Burdett books are out on loan right now so I can't reproduce the words here, but perhaps someone else has this one? The song started more or less like this:

Yesterday, they went upon their way
The three great kings who came from foreign regions.
Yesterday, they went upon their way
The three great kings who came from far away.

With chests of gold and with gifts untold...

Good luck! Claire

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 03:45 PM

Another song that might fit in, though not at first sight, is Alan Bell's "Bread and Fishes"

No,it's not about the Magi/Wise Men/ Three Kings, but it shares the same religious subtext, about the Christ child being for Gentiles as well as for his own people.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 04:10 PM

I think that was the tune to the one I can't remember properly... that ol' Bizzy bloke.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 05:05 PM

Liz, I confess I was wondering about that; it did seem to scan the same way.

I wonder if the two rather awkwardly worded English-language songs we cite here are both translations of a French (presumably) Epiphany carol.

Anyone?

Subject: Lyr Add: LA MARCHE DES ROIS
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 05:29 PM

Found the French carol. It's a bit less awkward in its original language, but probably would still not make the Top 50 list. Here it is, anyway:

LA MARCHE DES ROIS

De bon matin,
J'ai rencontré le train
De trois grands Rois qui allaient en voyage,
De bon matin,
J'ai rencontré le train
De trois grands Rois dessus le grand chemin.

Venaient d'abord les gardes du corps,
Des gens armés avec trente petits pages,
Venaient d'abord les gardes du corps
Des gens armés dessus leurs just'au corps.

Puis sur un char,
Doré de toute part,
On voittrois rois modestes comme d'anges
Puis sur un char,
Doré de toute part
Trois rois debouts parmi les étendards.

L'étoile luit
Et les Rois conduit,
Par longs chemins,
Devant une pauvre étable,
L'étoile luit
Et les Rois conduit,
Par longs chemins devant l'humble réduit.

Au fils de Dieu
Qui naquit en ce lieu
Ils viennent tous présenter leurs hommages,
Au fils de Dieu
Qui naquit en ce lieu
Ils viennent tous présenter leurs doux vœux.

De beaux présent,
Or, myrrhe et encens
Ils vont offrir au maître tant admirable
De beaux présent,
Or, myrrhe et encens
Ils vont offrir au bienheureux enfant.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 05:59 PM

Run it through the translator French to English - it's a hoot!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 10:53 PM

It's actually fine in French--I've sung it with several groups.   I've also found an English paraphrase (not literal, thank goodness)--that rhymes. But it's still clunky. Your best bet is French.

The site I found it at claims the tune is Provencal-- 13 th century.

At any rate it handily pre-dates the Bizet use of it in a farandole in L'Arlesienne.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLING DOWN TO BETHLEHEM
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 12:21 AM

ROLLING DOWN TO BETHLEHEM

Melody:                Rolling Down To Old Maui        
Words by:                Flawn Williams


It's a thoughtful life, full of mental strife we Wise Men undergo.
But we don't give a care, now the Christ Child's come, how fast our camels go.
Now we're Westward bound over desert ground with our gifts to bring to Him.
He's fast asleep with the pigs and the sheep in the town of Bethlehem.

Chorus:
Rolling down to Bethlehem, me boys,
Rolling down to Bethlehem,
We're Wise Men bound to the Holy Ground
Rolling down to Bethlehem.

Once more we pounce on our camel mounts and ride toward the stars
With sacks of gold and bags of myrrh and frankincense in a jar.
There'll be angels there with golden hair and shepherds on the hill
But they'd better make way when we come today to bestow our wise goodwill.

His father Joseph and Mary his mum had come their tax to pay,
But in Bethlehem there were so many men the hotels turned them away.
They were forced to go to the stable low to deliver the Baby then.
But we won't fuss - for Kings like us there's always room at the inn!

So thanks, good peasants, we now must go and continue our journey West.
We've enjoyed our short time here with you, so we'll grant your small request.
We are Wise Men true, so may God bless you, and your village poor and small
And we'll take away when we leave today that crippled boy named Amahl.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: MMario
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 08:49 AM

Thank you charlie! gona use that one 12th night!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,l
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 11:29 AM

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 11:36 PM

Thanks for those words, MMario. I'm off now to fit them into the song.

Where did you find them?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 12:22 AM

"Hymns and Carols of Christmas" has two versions in French, and three 'translations' (brief and approximate) of "La marche des rois mages," or "March of the Three Kings" with Noteworthy and midi (couldn't get the midi to work today).

Also at this webside is "The Magi Came from Lands Afar, with Midi, sheet music, Noteworthy, etc., English, 1894 (Midi works).
There are several with the title, "Three Kings ..."

There should be others in their long list. Index page:
www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/HTML/The_hymns_and_carols_htm
Index

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Dec 05 - 03:17 PM

Spain and Mexico have many songs about the Three Kings or Magi. They deliver gifts to children, not the Santa Claus of the English-American tradition.
"Los Reyes Magos de Humada," a very long poem-song
"Los Reyes de Ordejón de Abajo"
"Los Santos Reyes"
These three traditionals and others at: http://www.arrakis.es/~turmodigos/newcan4.htm
Los Reyes Magos

"Los Tres Santos Reyes," with midi:
http://www.elboricua.com/losreyes.html
Los Reyes

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 06:10 AM

Cum virginae Maria make it virgine

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,Kate Rose
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 03:02 PM

One fine day, I met upon my way
The three great kings of the the orient riding
One fine day, I met upon my way
The three great kings in all their fine array.

(Then thre bridge has something like the French, a description of the finery. . ., - that sort of thing.)

With surprise, I saw the magi wise
. . . .
and scarce believed the sight before my eyes.

For, lo, to guide them a star shone bright
. . .
For lo to guid them a star shone bright
and on the manger shed its wondrous light.


I remember the song -- these are bits and pieces from a children's collection, Diller Carols from Many Lands, I think, from maybe 50 years ago.
Anyone have more? I would very much like to use it Sunday, and we can't sing the French.


Kate [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Anglo
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:16 AM

Also, "Over The Hill And Over The Dale," tune from Piae Cantiones, a text is at www.goldenhindmusic.com, song lyrics to Nowell Sing We Four by Nowell Sing We Clear. I believe Pint and Dale have also recorded this version.

And at the same site "March of the Kings," an English text of the Provencal carol mentioned above, also from Nowell Sing We Clear, Hail Smiling Morn.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRIST CHILD LULLABY
From: Hrothgar
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:41 AM

CHRIST CHILD LULLABY

My love, my pride, my treasure oh
My wonder new and pleasure oh
My son, my beauty, ever You
Who am I to bear You here?

The cause of talk and tale am I
The cause of greatest fame am I
The cause of proudest care on high
To have for mine, the King of all

And though You are the King of all
They sent You to the manger stall
Where at Your feet they all shall fall
And glorify my child, the King

There shone a star above three kings
To guide them to the King of kings
They held You in their humble arms
And knelt before You until dawn

They gave You myrrh and gave You gold
Frankincense and gifts untold
They traveled far these gifts to bring
And glorify their new born King.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: open mike
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 04:00 AM

since this has come to the top again i will post
the link to the amazon site for Darrly Purpose's
http://www.darrylpurpose.com/ Gift of the Magi
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000077W6F/ref=m_art_li_5/104-2719808-5808739?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,Marion
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 12:12 AM

This isn't a song, but I've done it as a dramatic reading and it's quite good.

The following is a monologue from the book "Magnificent Defeat" by minister/author Frederick Buechner:

"'Beware of beautiful strangers, and on Friday avoid travel by water. The sun is moving into the house of Venus, so affairs of the heart will prosper.' We said this to Herod, or something along those lines, and of course it meant next to nothing. To have told him anything of real value, we would have had to spend weeks of study, months, calculating the conjunction of the planets at the precise moment of his birth, and at the births of his parents, and their parents back to the fourth generation. But Herod knew nothing of this, and he jumped at the nonsense we threw him like a hungry dog and thanked us for it. A lost man, you see, even though he was a king. Neither really a Jew nor really a Roman, he was at home nowhere. And he believed in nothing, neither Olympian Zeus nor the Holy One of Israel, who cannot be named. So he was ready to jump at anything, and he swallowed our little jingle whole. But it could hardly have been more obvious that jingles were the least of what he wanted from us.

"'Go and find me the child,' the king told us, and as he spoke, his fingers trembled together so that the emeralds rattled together like teeth. 'Because I want to come and worship him,' he said, and when he said that, his hands were still as death. Death. I ask you, does a man need the stars to tell him that no king has ever yet bowed down to another king? He took us for children, that sly, lost old fox, and so it was like children that we answered him. 'Yes, of course,' we said, and went our way. His hands fluttered to his throat like moths.

"Why did we travel so far to be there when it happened? Why was it not enough just to know the secret without having to be there ourselves to behold it? To this, not even the stars had an answer. The prophecy said simply that he would be born. It was another voice altogether that said to go--a voice as deep within ourselves as the stars are deep within the sky.

"But why did we go? I cannot tell you now, and I could not have told you then, not even as we were in the very process of going. Not that we had no motive, but that we had so many. Curiosity, I suppose: to be wise is to be eternally curious, and we were very wise. We wanted to see for ourselves this One before whom even the stars are said to bow down--to see perhaps if it was really true because even the wise have their doubts. And longing. Longing. Why will a man who is dying of thirst crawl miles across sands as hot as fire at simply the possibility of water? But if we longed to receive, we longed also to give. Why will a man labor and struggle all the days of his life so that in the end he has something to give the ones he loves?

"So finally we got to the place where the star pointed us. It was at night. Very cold. The landlord showed us the way that we did not really need to be shown. The room was sparsely appointed, but clean. Our breath came out in little puffs of mist. The man and the woman. Between them the King. We did not stay long. Only a few minutes as the clock goes, ten thousand, thousand years. We set our foolish gifts down on the floor and left.

"I will tell you two terrible things. What we saw on the face of the newborn child was his death. A fool could have seen it as well. It sat on his head like a crown or a bat, this death that he would die. And we saw, as sure as the earth beneath our feet, that to bow in submission before Him would be to share that death.

"And now, brothers and sisters, I will ask you a terrible question, and God knows I ask it also of myself. Is the Truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without Him is the real death, that to die with Him is the only life?"

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: open mike
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 01:36 AM

Wow Marion...what a great story and
how great it is to have you back again!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,Wendy
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 07:13 AM

I was singing the song only this morning LTS. We sand this song at school and all I remember is "At break of day as I went on my way, I met three Kings and they were Eastern Sages. At break of day as I went on my way I met three Kings all in their grand array. First of all came the guards so tall, their men at arms and their 30 little pages, and first of all came the guards so tall, the men at arms and all their pages small". I think that's right anyway it's how I remember it. It was sung to a tune that was on the Classic FM this morning, can't think what it is called. Surprised to read other people also wondering about this song.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,the button
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 07:51 AM

We used to sing this at school: -

We three kings of Orient are,
One in a bus, and one in a car,
One on a scooter, blowing his hooter
Riding through Beverley Bar.

The folk process alive & well in East Yorkshire in the 70s. ;-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Arkie
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 07:25 PM

Thanks for posting Marion.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,Chicken Charlie
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 08:47 PM

With a little slurring, "Magi, I couldn't have tried ... any more" would probably work, if you need filler.

:)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Nick E
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 09:58 PM

Have I missed something? How about We Three Kings?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Nick E
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 10:01 PM

Yes I did so sorry, god I wish I could edit my posts to seem just a little less stupid.

Subject: Lyr Add: INTO THE EAST (Sandler & Young)
From: Genie
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:58 PM

I have a Christmas album sung by Sandler & Young, and one track is this song:

Out Of The East (Into The East)

Out of the East there came riding, riding,
Three of the wisest of men.
Dust was their enemy blinding, blinding
Even the wisest of them.

Wandering shepherds heard tell their story,
Told in the flickering firelight -
Tender light,
Ever bright Christmas night.

Far to the West was there shining, shining
Blazing a star in the dawn;
Reverent wise men beheld it, saying
"This night a savior is born."

Into the West they went riding, riding,
Following after the star,
Over a quiet town shining, shining,
Lighting their way from afar.

Under its glory sat Mother Mary
Tenderly singing a lullaby:
Hush-a-bye,
Don't-you-cry lullaby.

Into the stable came riding, riding,
Three of the wisest of men.
Gifts did they bring for that Babe in a manger,
Gifts for the Savior of men.

Lo! In a manger they found Him, found Him,
Bathed in the light of yon star.
Gold did they bring Him and frankincense,
And myrrh from a land that was far.

Shepherds crept in singing praises, praises;
Angels kept watch to be near to Him,
Dear to Him,
One with Him, praising Him.

Into the East they went riding, riding,
Three of the wisest of men.
Found was the Babe in a lowly manger,
Crowned was the Savior of men.

I found the lyrics at Geocities.com:
Into The East

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: open mike
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 03:24 PM

I am in the process of writng a song based
on O. Henry's Gift of the Magi. There are
no kings in it , though.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 07:42 PM

We three spivs in Leicester Square
Selling ladies underwear.
Its fantastic
no elastic,
only three shillings a pair.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 08:02 PM

There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.

(As far as I know the allusion to the Magi was Burns's idea, no other version of the song has it).

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Young Buchan
Date: 23 Oct 09 - 08:17 PM

To save you from the wrath that will come should you attempt to perform the male-centric programme outlined by others, may I suggest the Three Wise Women which I believe was originally by Les Barker (if not it was Stanley Accrington). Everybody who sings it adds their own verses and adapts the others so it is possible that what is below may contain nothing of the original at all (on the principle of 'I have a twenty year old broom - it's had six new heads and three new handles').

Three wise women went down to Bethlehem, went down to Bethlehem, went down to Bethlehem;
Three wise women went down to Bethlehem to see the baby King

The first wise woman took cotton buds and baby wipes ....

The second wise woman took two gross of Pampers Dry ....

The third wise woman took a voucher from Mothercare ....

The first wise woman said "What bloody use is frankincense?" ....

The second wise woman said "Cowsheds aren't hygenical" ....

The third wise woman said "Joseph, get up off your arse!" ....

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Young Buchan
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 05:50 AM

By repeating each line 3 times and adding a refrain line of "Shortly after Christmas" you can sing MOST of Eliot's Journey of the Magi to the tune of Drunken Sailor (or Grumpy Pirate if you've been following a different thread!). But it gets a bit hairy when you get down to "With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness" :-S

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: DMcG
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 06:04 AM

Combining the three Kings and the idea that the Epiphany is about bring the Christ-Child to all Gentiles, I find "The Huron Carol" fits in very well:

"The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 09:42 AM

Leeneia, are you still around? Can you post what you know of the lyrics that begin "Late at night, upon a great highway, I saw three kings of the East come riding..."?

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 10:13 AM

Peter Paul and Mary has recorded a song called "The Magi".

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 11:16 AM

Hello, Bill. Here's what I remember.

Late at night, upon a great highway (highway has the accent on 'way')
I saw three kings of the east come riding.
In the sky there shown a bright array
to guide these kings upon their eager way.

While noble courtiers went on before,
**************************
*************************************
dispelling dangers that hovered near.



Half the class pronounced 'hovered' as 'hoovered,' and our teacher had to stop everything and clear that up.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Joe_F
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 08:50 PM

It is a folkloric curiosity that, despite what seems to be a worldwide Christian tradition, there is no Biblical warrant for the Magi's being three, or for their being kings.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: Kent Davis
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 11:13 PM

Joe F,

You are right that the Bible doesn't say there were three magi, and also right that it doesn't say they were kings.   

The folkloric idea that they were kings is odd. The text says what they were. They were...magi.

(As you probably know, the word "magi" has the same root as the word "magic". Magi are magicians, not in the "I can pull a rabbit out of a hat" sense, but in the sense of being sorcerers, wizards, or astrologers, those who claim special knowledge or special powers.)

A related odd idea, common in folklore but not supported by the Bible, is the notion that the star they followed was exceptionally bright. It's brightness is never mentioned in the text http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20matthew%202:1-11&version=ESV

Kent

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,Doug Saum
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 06:20 PM

If you forgive a bit of self-promotion, I have a song called "The Magi" on my CD titled RESPONSIBILITIES. The lyrics a from W B Yeats and a free sample is available from CDBABY.com. It's definitely not the standard Christmassy treatment of these fellows. Regards, D

Subject: RE: Tune Req: any songs about the magi?
From: GUEST,EJR guest
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 09:15 AM

To Liz the Squeak . . . I remember that carol too. It was sung to the tune of Bizet's Farandole. I can't find the lyrics anywhere but I remember a couple more lines:

At break of day as I went on my way,
I saw three kings and they were Eastern sages,
At break of day I went on my way,
I saw three kings . . .[something or other]

First of all came the guards so tall,
Then men at arms with their 30 little pages.


Anyone know any more!?