Three Kings' Song

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The Magi came out of the Orient land

Translator: S. Baring-Gould
Tune: [The Magi came out of the Orient land]
Published in 2 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 The Magi came out of the Orient land,
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
They rode over rock and they rode over sand,
Right glad, then were those three.

2 And as they went riding, a star went before,
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
The form of a glorious infant it bore,
Right glad, then were those three.

3 And when to Jerusalem city they came,
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
They saw not the star with its glorious flame,
How sad, then were those three.

4 And as they were sitting at dinner one day,
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
An angel of Heaven appeared and did say,
Right glad, then were those three.

5 "Go, Magi, once more from the town to the wild,"
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
"For Herod is seeking the life of the Child,"
How sad, then were those three.

6 But when from the city they hastened in fear,
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
The star went before, shining brightly and clear,
Right glad, then were those three.

7 They came to the stable at Bethlehem town,
Now rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, pretty baby!
They poured out their treasures, and lowly kneeled down,
Right glad, then were those three.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #9253

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Translator: S. Baring-Gould

Baring-Gould, Sabine, M.A., eldest son of Mr. Edward Baring-Gould, of Lew Trenchard, Devon, b. at Exeter, Jan. 28, 1834, and educated at Clare College, Cambridge, B.A. 1857, M.A. 1860. Taking Holy Orders in 1864, he held the curacy of Horbury, near Wakefield, until 1867, when he was preferred to the incumbency of Dalton, Yorks. In 1871 he became rector of East Mersea, Essex, and in 1881 rector of Lew Trenchard, Devon. His works are numerous, the most important of which are, Lives of the Saints, 15 vols., 1872-77; Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, 2 series, 1866-68; The Origin and Development of Religious Belief, 2 vols., 1869-1870; and various volumes of sermons. His hymns, original and translated, appeared in the Church Times; Hymns Ancien… Go to person page >

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