I call it a pop carol, because as far as historical or spiritual value, it's as good as singing "Jolly Old St. Nicholas."
The Story Behind I Saw Three Ships
The lyrics mention the ships sailing into Bethlehem, but the nearest body of water is the Dead Sea about 20 miles away. The reference to three ships is believed to from the three ships that carried the relics of the Biblical magi to Cologne Cathedral in the 12th century.*
That is the most likely basis of the original form of the song whatever that was.
Decoding this one would be significant easier if there was a clearly documented point of origin, but unfortunately we aren’t that lucky. It was published in Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern in 1833 under the title “I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In,” transcribed by English lawyer William Sandys. There is also printed version from the 17th century too (one source says 1666, but doesn’t give any citation), but because of its structure and chord progression, it’s actually likely far older than that. **
Another possible reference is to Wenceslaus II, King of Bohemia, who bore a coat of arms "Azure three galleys argent".*
.... (not the Good King, a different Wenceslaus), who reigned modern-day western Czech Republic in the late 13th century. Why him? Wenceslaus II had a coat of arms with three boats. That’s pretty much it.**
Another suggestion is that the ships are actually the camels used by the Magi, as camels are commonly referred to as "ships of the desert".*
Odds are “I Saw Three Ships” was written by minstrels in the middle ages, and over time it has changed and morphed little by little into what we have now.**
1 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.
2 And who was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And whp was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
3 Our Saviour Christ and his ladye,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Our Saviour Christ and his ladye,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
4 Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
Pray whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
5 O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
6 And all the bells on Earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on Earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
7 And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
8. And all the souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.*
*ht tps://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/i-saw-three-ships/
**ht tps://petersanfilippo.medium.com/i-saw-three-ships-dead-kings-a-really-bad-sense-of-geography-and-more-english-6bd6408de821
