We Three Kings: Difference between revisions
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Remove parody versions. If it should be in Wikipedia at all, it should not be in this article but a separate one about the parodies. |
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*Tonus Peregrinus on the 2003 album The Naxos Book of Carols |
*Tonus Peregrinus on the 2003 album The Naxos Book of Carols |
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*[[Lycia]] on their 2001 release [[Compilation Appearances Volume 2]] |
*[[Lycia]] on their 2001 release [[Compilation Appearances Volume 2]] |
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==Other versions== |
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*[[The Roches]] have a version of this song in which all but the final verse are sung. |
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*[[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] has an instrumental song inspired by "We Three Kings" named "We Five Kings", released on ''[[The Jethro Tull Christmas Album]]'' in 2003. |
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*''We Three Kings'' is also occasionally sung to the tune of [[Scarborough Fair]]. Some say this tune emphasises the reflective mood of the lyrics better than the original tune. {{Fact|date=March 2008}} |
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*[[Steve Ouimette]] performed an instrumental, [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]/[[speed metal]]-based guitar version of the song as a downloadable track for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]] versions of ''[[Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock]]''. |
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*Similar to [[Jingle Bells#Parodies and homages|Jingle bells Batman smells]], "We Three Kings" also has a children's parody, dating back at least to the late 1950s: |
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<blockquote>We three kings, of orient are<br/> |
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trying to smoke a rubber cigar. [The material of the cigar varies]<br/> |
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It was loaded,<br/> |
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it exploded!<br/> |
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Now we are seeing stars! |
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:[Alternatively, some versions use a loud "BOOM!" or an uncomfortable period of silence instead of "Now we are seeing stars!"] |
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We '''two''' kings, of orient are... [emphasis added] |
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:[That is, the song starts over, gradually diminishing the number of kings, ending with either "We no kings" or "[[Silent Night]]..."] |
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</blockquote> |
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Another more common parody runs: |
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:We three kings of orient are |
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:One in a taxi, one in a car |
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:One on a scooter pipping his hoooter |
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:Didnt get very far |
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A slight variation is: |
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:We three kings of orient are |
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:One in a taxi, one in a car |
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:One on a scooter blowing his hoooter |
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:Smoking a big cigar |
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*A parody of the carol, substituting [[The Beatles]] for the Kings also exists: |
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:We four Beatles of Liverpool are: |
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:John in a taxi, Paul in a car, |
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:George on a scooter, beeping the hooter, |
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:Following Ringo Starr |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 22:49, 27 November 2008
"We Three Kings of Orient Are" also known as "The Quest of the Magi" is a Christmas carol written by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music as part of a Christmas pageant for the General Theological Seminary in New York City. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863. Hopkins composed the song in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was a pastor at Christ Episcopal Church (which still stands at the corner of Fourth and Mulberry Streets).
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. He was the son of John Henry Hopkins, the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont and the eighth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. In 1872, John Henry Hopkins became rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Plattsburgh, NY.
Lyrics
- We three kings of Orient are
- Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
- Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
- Following yonder star.
REFRAIN
- O star of wonder, star of night,
- Star with royal beauty bright,
- Westward leading, still proceeding,
- Guide us to thy perfect Light.
- Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
- Gold I bring to crown Him again,
- King forever, ceasing never
- Over us all to reign.
REFRAIN
- Frankincense to offer have I.
- Incense owns a Deity nigh.
- Prayer and praising, all men raising,
- Worship Him, God most high.
REFRAIN
- Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume
- Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
- Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
- Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
REFRAIN
- Glorious now behold Him arise,
- King and God and Sacrifice.
- Alleluia, alleluia!
- Earth to the heaven replies.
REFRAIN
Significance of the lyrics
The three kings are magi, probably Zoroastrians from the area of Persia, who, according to the bible, visited Jesus Christ, as a small child (not at the manger as often portrayed in nativity scenes). Although they were later assigned the names of Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior, nowhere in the Bible does it say that there were only three magi. The gifts offered to the newborn Jesus have the following significance:
- Gold represents Jesus' kingship, not as an earthly king but a heavenly one.
- Frankincense represents Jesus' role as priest, he is the perfect intermediary between mankind and God.
- Myrrh, associated with death, represents Jesus' role as Saviour, in connection with his ultimate purpose of sacrificing himself to redeem mankind.
Cover versions
- The Beach Boys recorded a version with an orchestral arrangement by Dick Reynolds on their 1964 album The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.
- 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 Holidays.
- Harry Connick, Jr. on his 2008 album What a Night! A Christmas Album.
- Odds originally recorded a version of the song on the 1991 A Lump of Coal compilation. It reappeared most recently on their 2000 greatest hits album [Singles: Individually Wrapped]].
- Kamelot played an instrumental of "We Three Kings" on their first live album.
- Burl Ives sings this song on his album Christmas at the White House (1972).
- Aly & AJ did a cover of this song on their 2006 Christmas album Acoustic Hearts of Winter.
- Toby Keith covered the song on his 2007 album A Classic Christmas.
- Patti Smith - A Very Special Christmas 3 album, (1997)
- Bradley Joseph - solo piano arrangement on his 2008 album, Classic Christmas.
- Andrew Parrott and the Taverner Consort on their 1993 EMI album The Carols Album 2, using the original arrangement.
- John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers on their 1997 album Christmas Star
- Martin Neary and the Choir of Westminster Abbey on their 1997 album Christmas Carols from Westminster Abbey
- Tonus Peregrinus on the 2003 album The Naxos Book of Carols
- Lycia on their 2001 release Compilation Appearances Volume 2
See also
References
The Book of World Famous Music Classical, Popular and Folk by James Fuld (1966)
External links
- Free typeset sheet music from Cantorion.org
- Lyrics to We Three Kings from AllChristmasLyrics.com
- Biography of Rev. John Henry Hopkins