I Saw Three Ships chords

Nat King Cole

Song Key: F Major → Gb Major

Time Signature: 6/8

Tempo: 80 bpm


Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e

Skill Level: Beginner 🟢

Guitar Chords in E Major → F Major: E, B7 → F, C7

Capo: 1st fret (to play with the video in F major)

Play-Along Video
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
E Major B7 F Major F Major barre chord C7
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
E Major-LH B7-LH F Major-LH F Major barre chord-LH C7-LH
Speed: x0.1

I Saw Three Ships

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
             
     E         B7         E        B7
1. I saw three ships come sail-ing in
      E                  B7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
     E         B7         E        B7    
   I saw three ships come sail-ing in
     E                      B7   E
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing
                             B7   E
   (On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing)
   
   
       E        B7       E         B7
2. And what was in those ships all three
      E                  B7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       E        B7       E         B7
   And what was in those ships all three
     E                      B7   E
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing? 
                             B7   E
   (On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing)
   
       E       B7        E           B7
3. The Vir gin Ma-ry and Christ were there
      E                  B7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       E       B7      E           B7
   The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
     E                      B7   E   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?
   
            (Key Change)
   
       F       C7         F             C7
4. And all the an-gels in hea-ven shall sing
      F                  C7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       F       C7         F             C7
   And all the an-gels in hea-ven shall sing
      F                     C7    F    
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?
   
        F      C7      F      C7  
5. Then let us all re-joice a-gain
      F                  C7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
        F       C7     F      C7  
   Then let us all re-joice a-gain
      F                     C7    F    
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing? 
   
      F                     C7    F    
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?  

Arrangement Details:

  • Song Keys: F Major with a key change to Gb Major
  • Key Signature: F Major - 1 flats (Bb)
  • Key Signature: Gb Major - 6 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
  • Chords in F Major → Gb Major: F, C7 → Gb, Db7
  • Time Signature: 6/8 — Six eighth-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Lively
  • Metronome: ♩. = 80
  • Voice Range: C4 - C5

Song Details:

The Christmas Song Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: Traditional
  • Earliest Printed Edition: 1833
  • Lyrics Begin: I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas day, on Christmas day;
  • Genre: Traditional Carol, British Folk, Christmas Music
  • Featured Artist: Nat King Cole
  • Album: The Christmas Song
    Released: 1962
Songs by Nat King Cole on this site:

I Saw Three Ships Lyrics

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, whither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
Pray, whither 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

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