I Saw Three Ships chords

by Nat King Cole

Composer: Traditional
Earliest Printed Version: 17th Century
Performance: Nat King Cole
Album: The Christmas Song
Music: D Major in 6/8 time at ~80 bpm (♩.)
Chords: D, A7
Beginners: Ideal song with 2 very easy chords
Capo on 3 if playing with the video (F Major)

Chart Legend

Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note

I Saw Three Ships

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key

             
     D         A7         D        A7
1. I saw three ships come sail-ing in
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
     D         A7         D        A7    
   I saw three ships come sail-ing in
     D                      A7   D                             A7   D 
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing (On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing)
   
       D        A7       D         A7
2. And what was in those ships all three
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       D        A7       D         A7
   And what was in those ships all three
     D                      A7   D                              A7   D  
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing? (On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing)
   
       D       A7        D           A7
3. The Vir gin Ma-ry and Christ were there
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       D       A7      D           A7
   The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
     D                      A7   D   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?
   
       D       A7         D             A7
4. And all the an-gels in hea-ven shall sing
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
       D       A7         D             A7
   And all the an-gels in hea-ven shall sing
      D                     A7   D   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?
   
        D      A7     D       A7 
5. Then let us all re-joice a-gain
      D                  A7
   On Christ-mas day, on Christ-mas day
        D      A7     D       A7 
   Then let us all re-joice a-gain
      D                     A7   D   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing? 
   
      D                     A7   D   
   On Christ-mas day in the morn-ing?

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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