Wise Men
Kate Anna McGarrigle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And constellations rule your life
Long ago three kings set out
To follow a peculiar light
What did they see up in the sky
That made them take leave of their land?
And carry gifts on camel back
Through cloudless days and cloudless nights
The bells upon the camel ring
And the wind played on rips of sand
It must be the voices of angels singing
Gold to crown His loftiness
Myrrh for the man upon his death
Frankincense for godliness
Black smoke eyed that starts tonight
Minds explode in golden sand
Underground black waters flow
In Afghan fields, the poppies grow
Gold to crown His loftiness
Myrrh for the man upon his death
Frankincense for godliness
The first stanza of "Wise Men" by Kate & Anna McGarrigle describes the desert, a place where stars are bright and constellations dictate one's existence. The second line, "Long ago three kings set out," alludes to the story of the wise men in the Bible who traveled by following a peculiar star. The story then goes on to ask what the three kings saw in the sky that compelled them to leave and travel through the desolate desert with gifts on their camels. The final line of the stanza, "Of the years of endless sand," suggests the hardship and length of their journey.
The second stanza refers to the bells that ring on the camels as they travel through the desert. The wind playing on the ripples of sand is likened to the sound of angels singing. The final stanza of the song goes back to the gifts the three kings carried with them. The three gifts mentioned are gold, used to crown His loftiness; myrrh, for the man upon his death; and frankincense, for godliness. The song ends with two lines that allude to more modern imagery, referencing black smoke, minds that explode, underground waters, and fields of poppies.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dessert where the stars are bright
The song begins by describing the desert where the sky is clear and stars shine bright, setting the stage for the arrival of the three wise men.
And constellations rule your life
The wise men believed that the patterns of stars in the sky held important messages and could impact their lives, guiding them towards their destiny.
Long ago three kings set out
Centuries ago, three men of great wealth and power decided to take a journey that would change their lives forever.
To follow a peculiar light
They saw a strange and unique star in the sky, which they believed was a sign from God, leading them towards something important and life-changing.
What did they see up in the sky
The song asks a rhetorical question, wondering what the wise men saw in the sky that inspired them to take such a journey.
That made them take leave of their land?
The song ponders why the wise men would leave their homes and all their possessions to follow a star, trying to understand the significance of their journey.
And carry gifts on camel back
The wise men brought valuable and symbolic gifts with them on their journey, packaged on the backs of camels to accompany them in their travels.
Of the years of endless sand
The song describes the vast, barren deserts that the wise men had to travel through, which seemed to stretch on forever, and the challenges they faced along the way.
Through cloudless days and cloudless nights
The travel conditions seemed grueling, with endless sunshine and no shade, and nighttime skies with no clouds to offer any relief.
The bells upon the camel ring
The jingling sound of the bells attached to the camels' harnesses was a constant reminder of the journey they were on and the potential rewards that awaited them.
And the wind played on rips of sand
The song imagines the sound of the wind blowing through the desert, creating ripples in the sand and blowing dust across the landscape.
It must be the voices of angels singing
Despite the harsh conditions, the wise men felt a sense of spiritual connection and believed that they could hear the voices of angels singing in the wind, guiding them towards their destination.
Gold to crown His loftiness
One of the gifts the wise men brought was gold, symbolizing the kingship of the baby Jesus they were seeking.
Myrrh for the man upon his death
The second gift was myrrh, which was often used in ancient times for embalming the dead, foreshadowing the death and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Frankincense for godliness
The final gift was frankincense, a fragrant resin that was often burned as incense during religious ceremonies, symbolizing the divine nature of Jesus.
Black smoke eyed that starts tonight
The song jumps to modern times, describing the black smoke of war, possibly in the Middle East, and the atrocities that occur in the darkness of night.
Minds explode in golden sand
The environment of war is chaotic and deadly, with people caught in the crossfire and impacted by events out of their control.
Underground black waters flow
The song speaks to the devastation of war and how it can pollute the environment, with toxic waste seeping into the ground and contaminating underground water sources.
In Afghan fields, the poppies grow
The song hints at the relationship between war, drugs, and poverty, with poppies often being grown in Afghanistan to support the opium trade, which fuels violence and destabilizes the region.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anna McGarrigle, Kate McGarrigle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind