I’ve been listening to Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas songs lately. (Thanks to my friend Rabid Hoss for emailing me that link…) I really like his renditions of some the old yuletide favorites and  some of the new ones are instant classics in my book.

His rendition of I Saw Three Ships and Sting’s rendition of the same song (on A Very Special Christmas III) have pushed this song to the top of my list of favorite carols.  (God Bless Ye, Merry Gentlemen is still a close second though.)

I was thinking the other day that I like it when artists who do not claim to be Christian (i.e. Sting, Chris Cornell of Sound Garden, etc.) cover Christmas songs with a truly Christian meaning. It almost seems as if they are giving credit where credit is due (both for their own God-given abilities and in honor of His glory) even if they don’t know or admit that this is what is going on. It just seems like poetic justice to me…

Anyway, here’s the lyrics to I Saw Three Ships.  Watch out, the song gets into your head:

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.