Wise Men
McGarrigle Kate Lyrics
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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
Kate McGarrigle's song Wise Men is a thoughtful reflection on the journey of the Three Wise Men and their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The song begins with a reference to the vast and empty desert landscape, where the stars and constellations were the guiding force for the wise men as they embarked on their journey. The opening lines also suggest the weight of the journey, as the wise men followed the mysterious light that had appeared in the sky.
The chorus of the song focuses on the gifts that the wise men brought with them. These gifts were meant to honor and celebrate the arrival of a new king, with gold to crown His loftiness, myrrh for the man upon his death, and frankincense for godliness. Each of the three gifts has its own symbolic significance, representing wealth and power, sacrifice and death, and divinity and spirituality.
The final verse of the song shifts away from the story of the wise men to a more contemporary setting, where the desert and its mysteries continue to inspire and challenge. The reference to black smoke and exploding minds suggests violence and conflict, while the underground black waters and poppies point to the toxic legacy of war and addiction. Even in the midst of this darkness, however, the gifts of the wise men continue to offer a glimmer of hope and consolation.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dessert where the stars are bright
The desert is a vast, lonely place but when the stars shine, it brings hope and light into the darkness
And constellations rule your life
People in the desert don't rely on maps or roads, but on the stars to guide them through life's journey
Long ago three kings set out
Three wise men, having seen a sign from above, set out to find the source of that sign
To follow a peculiar light
Drawn by an unusual light, these three kings set out on a journey to see where it leads them.
What did they see up in the sky
There was something in the sky that captured their attention and prompted their journey
That made them take leave of their land?
Whatever they saw in the sky was momentous and life-changing, prompting them to leave everything behind and seek out the source of that sign
And carry gifts on camel back
With a sense of purpose, the wise men brought valuable gifts to present to the source of the sign they had seen
Of the years of endless sand
The desert is a symbol of the long years of endless wandering and searching
Through cloudless days and cloudless nights
The journey was long and strenuous, but the sky was always crystal-clear, revealing the stars and guiding their way
The bells upon the camel ring
As the wise men traveled on their camels, the sound of the bells provided a musical accompaniment to their journey
And the wind played on rips of sand
The sound of the wind created a haunting melody, accompanied by the rippling of sand in the wind
It must be the voices of angels singing
The sounds of nature were so beautiful that they seemed like the voices of angels singing
Gold to crown His loftiness
One of the gifts brought by the wise men was gold, a precious metal fit to crown the king of kings
Myrrh for the man upon his death
Another gift brought by the wise men was myrrh, a fragrant perfume used in preparation for burial - an indication of what was to come for the baby they had come to see
Frankincense for godliness
The third gift was frankincense, a symbol of purity and divinity, fit for a god
Black smoke eyed that starts tonight
A foreboding sense of darkness and evil looms on the horizon
Minds explode in golden sand
The infinite possibilities and potential of life in the desert create an atmosphere of excitement and wonder, a place where the mind can truly wander
Underground black waters flow
In the midst of the desert's apparent barrenness, there are hidden sources of life and vitality that flow beneath the surface - symbols of hope in the midst of desolation
In Afghan fields, the poppies grow
A nod to the struggles and conflicts of modern times, the poppies that grow in Afghanistan are symbols of beauty in the midst of violence and war
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anna McGarrigle, Kate McGarrigle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind