We Three Kings
Mannheim Steamroller Lyrics
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Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
[Refrain]
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
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, voices raising,
Worshiping God on 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,
Sounds through the earth and skies.
[Refrain]
The song 'We Three Kings' sung by Mannheim Steamroller is a traditional Christmas carol that recounts the story of the wise men (also known as the Magi) who came to visit Jesus shortly after his birth. The song begins by introducing the three wise men, describing them as "kings of Orient" who have traveled far to bring gifts to Jesus. The refrain of the song is a prayer addressed to a star, described as a "star of wonder, star of light" that is guiding the way of the wise men. The song creates a vivid image of the journey of the three kings across varying terrains, from fields and fountains to winding mountains, all led by the shining star.
Each of the wise men offers a gift to Jesus upon their arrival. The first king offers gold, a sign of Jesus' kingship and his status as a ruler. The second king offers frankincense, a symbol of Jesus' divinity and the gift of prayer. The third king offers myrrh, which foreshadows Jesus' death and burial.
The final verse of the song speaks of Jesus rising to become a king and a sacrifice, with the sounds of "Alleluia" ringing out across the earth and sky. Ultimately, the song sends a message of reverence towards Jesus and his divine nature.
Line by Line Meaning
We three kings of Orient are;
We are three rulers from the East.
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
We are bringing presents and traveling a long distance.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
We are traveling through different terrains.
Following yonder star.
We are following a star in the sky.
O star of wonder, star of light,
The star we are following is amazing and bright.
Star with royal beauty bright,
The star has a regal and beautiful appearance.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
The star is guiding us towards the West.
Guide us to thy perfect light.
We ask the star to lead us to the perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
A baby King was born in Bethlehem.
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
I am bringing gold to crown the baby King once more.
King forever, ceasing never,
The King will reign forever without ever stopping.
Over us all to reign.
The King will rule over everyone.
Frankincense to offer have I;
I am bringing frankincense as an offering.
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Incense belongs in the presence of a God who is near.
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
We are praying and singing with lifted voices.
Worshiping God on high.
We are worshiping God who is in the highest place.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
I have myrrh, which has a bitter scent.
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
There is sadness and darkness surrounding myrrh's aroma.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
The scent of myrrh is associated with grief, pain, blood, and death.
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
The body is enclosed in a cold, hard tomb.
Glorious now behold Him arise;
Now, we get to see how glorious He truly is as He rises up.
King and God and sacrifice;
He is both a King and God and will be a sacrifice.
Alleluia, Alleluia,
We sing praises with a joyful tone.
Sounds through the earth and skies.
Our praises can be heard throughout the entire world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN H. H. HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrea Martin
Love it. My Mom used to play this at Christmas time when I was young and she would decorate or clean the house. Amazing beautiful music.
Erika Gaither
Deserves More Likes 😘😗😘😘😘
Wolfie 577
my mom used to play this song and album on the way to and back when we were on a road trip during the Christmas times
Steven Kim
This is hands down the best rendition of We Three Kings, as well as my personal favorite version of the song.
Norma_Ro
Mannheim Steamroller is one of my favourites, along with Blackmore's Night, and Transiberian Orchestra. Wonderful groups.
Charles E. Wilson
This version is very elegant, sounds like something that would be played at an English castle to install a King or Queen.
phillip Larson
...or A Humble KING,
BORN TO SAVE US☆
Emma Kawasaki
@phillip Larson Amen
Christopher Bedford
On a kazoo??? 😝
P.S. Yes I realise it's probably an oboe. I'm trolling, hence the tongue
On an oboe??? 😝
Michael McCarthy
Sounds more like a tavern song with minstrels and bards.