We Three Kings

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We Three Kings of Orient Are is a Christmas carol (technically an Epiphany carol) written in 1857 by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the words and the music as part of a Christmas pageant for the General Theological Seminary in New York City. It first appeared in his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863.

Hopkins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1820, and died in Hudson, New York in 1891. He was a clergyman, author, book illustrator, stained glass window designer, and editor of the Church Journal out of New York.

1 Lyrics
2 Parodies
3 Other versions / Covers
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Lyrics

The lyrics (now in the public domain) are as follows:

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountains, moor and mountains
Following yonder star

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Sounds through the earth and sky

CHORUS:

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy Perfect Light

[edit] Parodies

In the United Kingdom, it is common for school children to sing the song with alternative lyrics, such as :

We Three Kings of Orient Are,
One in a taxi, one in a car,
One on a scooter, beeping his hooter,
Smoking a fat cigar.

In Liverpool, there is (or used to be) a version which went:

We Three Kings of Hamilton Square,
Selling knickers, two pence a pair,
So fantastic, no elastic,
Not very safe to wear!

This version is also used elsewhere in the country with alternate lyrics such as "Leicester Square" and "Buy your granny a pair".

We Three Kings of Orient are
Tried to Smoke a Rubber cigar
It was loaded and exploded . . .
We two Kings or orient are

An American version sometimes popular amongst elementary school children goes thus:

We Three Kings of Orient are
Riding on a rubber cigar
It was loaded, and exploded,
Now we're on yonder star!

Another version appeared in Mad Magazine in the 1970's:

We Three Clods from Omaha are
Drunk as skunks and driving a car
Swerving, reeling, barely feeling
Who needs a lousy bar?

[edit] Other versions / Covers

In 2004 English pop singer Nicolas [1] used the melody for his song "daffodil", included as a b-side-only track on his single "From here".

The Roches have a version of this song in which all but the final verse are sung.

The Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan did a version of this song which they combined with another carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," for their 2004 Christmas Album "Barenaked for the Hollidays."