Three Kings
St. John Vianney Theological Seminary Lyrics

The song Three Kings, otherwise known as We Three Kings of Orient Are, is a Christmas Carol that was written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr., an American priest, in 1857. The song tells the story of three magi who are journeying to visit the newborn baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and the gifts they have brought with them to give to him. The first verse introduces the magi and describes them as coming "from Orient" with gifts in hand, traversing far through fields, fountains, moors, and mountains, guided by a star. The second verse speaks of the star, calling it a "star of wonder, star of might" and asking it to guide them to the "perfect light" which is to be found in the baby Jesus. The third verse is focused on one of the gifts that one of the magi has brought with him, gold, which they bring to crown the baby as king forever, reigning over all. The fourth verse speaks of another gift, frankincense, which is given to Christ as a symbol of prayer and worship. The song concludes with a final plea to the star to guide the magi to this perfect light.

One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally written as a poem, and only later set to music. Hopkins Jr. wrote the words first and then added music to it himself. Another fact is that the song was originally written for a Christmas pageant at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, where Hopkins Jr. was on the faculty. Additionally, the song is the only carol written by an American that has become a widely recognized Christmas classic. Another interesting aspect of the song is that it is one of the few Christmas carols that focuses on the visit of the magi, rather than the nativity itself. The magi, or wise men, are typically seen as less prominent in the Christmas story, so the song provides a unique perspective on the events surrounding Jesus’s birth.

Other interesting facts about the song include that it was originally titled “Three Kings of Orient” and included additional verses that were later removed. The song has been covered by various artists, including Bing Crosby and John Denver, and has also been used in various movies and TV shows, including Disney’s Aladdin and The West Wing. The melody of the song is based on a tune from Arabia, which gives the song a sense of exoticism and adds to its unique character. Additionally, the story of the magi visiting Jesus appears only in the Gospel of Matthew, leading many scholars to question the historical accuracy of the event. Despite this, the story has become an integral part of the Christmas story, and the song Three Kings adds to the richness and diversity of this tradition.

Chords: G, C, D, Am, Bm, F#m, Em, D7 (These are the most common chords for the song, but different arrangements may vary slightly)