We Three Kings
St. Mary's Choir Lyrics
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Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star:
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 for ever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Incense owns a deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship him, God most high:
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Heaven sings:, ‘Alleluia’;
‘Alleluia,’ the earth replies.
"We Three Kings" is a Christmas carol that tells the story of the three wise men, also known as the magi, who followed the star to find Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The lyrics describe the journey of the three kings as they traveled through various terrain types such as fields, mountains, and moors to reach the star that appeared in the sky. They were bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to offer to Jesus as a sign of their worship and adoration. The first king presents gold, which represents Jesus’ kingship; the second presents frankincense, a symbol of Jesus’ divinity; the third presents myrrh, which represents Jesus’ humanity and his death on the cross. The chorus of the song refers to the star that led the wise men to their destination and asks it to guide them to Jesus’ perfect light.
The lyrics also depict Jesus’ significance and his ultimate purpose as the King of Kings and God’s ultimate sacrifice. The last verse mentions the heavenly singing of “Alleluia” while the earth responds with the same. This is a symbol of the rejoicing that occurs in heaven and on earth as a result of the birth of Jesus, who is the savior of mankind. "We Three Kings" has become a popular Christmas carol and is often sung in churches during the Christmas season.
Line by Line Meaning
We three kings of Orient are,
The three of us are kings from the East
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
We are traveling a long distance while carrying valuable presents
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star:
We are crossing various landscapes and terrains, keeping the star in our sight to guide our way
O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light
The star we see is magnificent, guiding us towards a perfect, grand light in the Western direction
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King for ever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.
On the plains of Bethlehem, a King was born. I bring gold to again crown Him as the King who shall reign forever over us all without end.
Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a deity nigh; Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship him, God most high:
I have frankincense to offer, which is owned by a god-like entity. Through prayer and devotion, all of mankind raise their worship to God, most high.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
I possess myrrh, whose bitter scent reminds us of the gathering darkness that will soon follow. Mourning, crying, bleeding, dying, he was sealed in the cold stone tomb
Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice. Heaven sings:, ‘Alleluia’; ‘Alleluia,’ the earth replies.
Behold the glorious rise of Him, who is both a King and a God that was sacrificed for us. From the heavens, the angels sing 'Alleluia' and the earth responds with the same joyful cry.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN HENRY HOPKINS, PAUL MILLS, RICHARD CRAIG SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind