My favorite part of Christmas is the music! I LOVE Christmas music! When I was a kid, I would listen to it all year long. Sometimes I'll still sneak in a listen in July. I'm going to
try to share a Christmas song every day from today through Christmas. Enjoy!
There are so many old traditional songs that are special at Christmastime. I like some of the more modern renditions of them too, though.
Check out this medley of two classic Christmas songs by Michael W. Smith. He blends together I Saw Three Ships and Joy To The World wonderfully. This is one of my favorites.
I Saw Three Ships
The origins of I saw three ships are unknown but it is believed to be an English carol from the Victorian era. The theme for I saw three ships is extremely optimistic and the repetition rate of the chorus lines of I saw three ships ensure that the carol will be well remembered. Author of the lyrics and composer of the music for I saw three ships is unknown. (http://www.carols.org.uk/i_saw_three_ships.htm)
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 in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
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.
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.
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.
Then let us all rejoice again,,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Then let us all rejoice, again,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Joy To The World
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Joy to the World is a popular Christmas carol which is based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. (http://www.carols.org.uk/a27-joy-to-the-world.htm)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
