This 17th Century English Christmas carol has confused geographically minded listeners as it mentions three ships sailing into Bethlehem, but the nearest body of water—the Dead Sea—is 20 miles away. Three theories exist; one is that the lyrics are a remnant from a song Azure Three Galleys Argent, celebrating Bohemian King Wenceslaus II. A second theory is that the ships are really camels, sometimes referred to colloquially as “ships of the desert.” The third and perhaps strangest theory is that that the ships are in reference to the delivery of the Biblical Magi sarcophagi to the Cologne Cathedral from Constantinople during the 12th Century.
The song has sustained a long life in contemporary pop music, covered by everyone from Nat King Cole to Sting to Sufjan Stevens to the Barenaked Ladies, even making appearances on the Teletubbies and the Muppet Family Christmas.
Lyrics
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
And what was on those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
A little boy and our lady
On Christmas day in the morning
Oh they sailed to Bethlehem
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
Oh they sailed to Bethlehem
On Christmas day in the morning
Then let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning
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