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I Saw Three Ships

from The Light Has Come by Matt Spainhour

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about

This is a song about Jesus and Mary riding three boats. I have never heard of a boat in the Christmas story, but I am keen to the idea.

"When did they take such a nautical journey?" we ask. The song answers emphatically: "On Christmas Day! In the Morning!"

If there is one ingredient we should bring to the Incarnation,
why not the excitement of the open sea?
The bright sun on the water, sea salt on the tongue,
and a breezy north wind taking our breath
and blowing our hair in mangled directions.

Here we feel the pores of our skin and stand ready to be surprised.
Then come the pealing bells and angel songs across the harbor.
Then comes the baby boy with Redemption in his eyes,
Then we know in the bones of our Sea Legs:
Nothing will ever be the same!

If nothing else, what a stunning addition to manger scenes worldwide:
The Nina! The Pinta! The Santa Maria!

lyrics

I saw three ships go sailing in
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
on Christmas day in the morning?

Our Savior Christ and his Lady,
on Christmas day in the morning.

And they sailed into Bethlehem
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
on Christmas Day in the morning.

credits

from The Light Has Come, released December 13, 2009
Ryan Andrew Newson sang the melody .

Matt sang harmony.

They both played guitars.

The heater is humming in the background.

This is not intentional but should remind listeners of their own humming heaters in midst of Yuletide cold.

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Matt Spainhour Knoxville, Tennessee

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