444:
535:, there are no further details given in the New Testament with regards to their names, the number of Magi that were present or whether they were even royal. There are, however, verses in the Old Testament that foretell of the visitors: Isaiah 60:6: "The wealth of the nations will come to you. A multitude of camels will cover you. The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord." (New American Standard Bible), and two selections from the Psalms – Psalm 72:10: "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts" and Psalm 72:15: "...and may there be given to him gold from Arabia" (New American Standard Bible). Hence, the names of the Magi—
43:
1666:
1692:
602:
held at the college. It was noteworthy that
Hopkins composed both the lyrics and music; contemporary carol composers usually wrote either the lyrics or music but not both. Originally titled "Three Kings of Orient", it was sung within his circle of family and friends. Because of the popularity it
859:
786:
471:
verse in order to correspond with the three kings. The first and last verses of the carol are sung together by all three as "verses of praise", while the intermediate verses are sung individually with each king describing the gift he was bringing. The
672:
Since the 1950s, the carol has been frequently parodied by children. The subject of the lyrics vary widely depending upon the region, with references to smoking explosive rubber cigars, selling counterfeit lingerie, or travelling to an
1327:
1642:
1073:
982:
1423:
564:
163:
1280:
1011:
607:. It was the first Christmas carol originating from the United States to achieve widespread popularity, as well as the first to be featured in
823:
1105:
595:
in 1850, he became its first music teacher five years later, holding the post until 1857 alongside his ministry in the
Episcopal Church.
739:
743:
551:
are legendary and based on tradition. The number three stems from the fact that there were three separate gifts that were given.
483:
The carol's melody has been described as "sad" and "shifting" in nature. Because of this, it highly resembles a song from the
42:
1337:
1264:
1237:
987:
1625:
615:; that year's edition was the first to have a separate section for Christmas songs. "We Three Kings" was also included in
1418:
447:
1413:
1371:
1722:
962:
932:
901:
769:
1727:
655:
508:
106:
27:
1447:
1331:
588:
1556:
54:
1669:
1599:
1284:
611:, a collection of carols that was published in the United Kingdom. In 1916, the carol was printed in the
443:
709:
1717:
1682:
1648:
1214:
568:
167:
1712:
621:
published in 1928, which praised the song as "one of the most successful of modern composed carols".
617:
1045:
686:
1429:
1732:
1539:
1340:, images of early editions of the carol and historical information, hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com
580:
450:
283:
1609:
1137:
1364:
1133:
560:
464:
159:
96:
1254:
1227:
1154:
759:
1484:
1197:
1181:
952:
922:
891:
584:
528:
480:. The Magi's solos are typically not observed during contemporary performances of the carol.
49:
1343:
1016:
864:
488:
58:
612:
8:
1696:
1576:
1513:
714:
598:
During his final year of teaching at the seminary, Hopkins wrote "We Three Kings" for a
1604:
1394:
1380:
1050:
651:
1551:
1544:
1489:
1474:
1469:
1357:
1310:
1260:
1233:
1078:
958:
928:
897:
791:
765:
544:
532:
512:
477:
371:
220:
1518:
1506:
1441:
536:
321:
860:"Caroling Into Christmas Insurance Salesmen, Teachers Had A Hand In Writing Songs"
1615:
1464:
1399:
828:
155:
78:
20:
1501:
1110:
660:
645:
540:
273:
1208:
1193:
1177:
603:
achieved among them, Hopkins decided to publish the carol in 1863 in his book
1706:
1571:
1479:
1404:
599:
500:
204:
175:
171:
162:
in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of
1581:
1494:
639:
520:
468:
467:
organized the carol in such a way that three male voices would each sing a
330:
62:
1165:
633:
484:
572:
419:
178:. It was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America.
1534:
674:
287:
954:
Joy to the World!: The
Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Carols
1561:
1691:
473:
335:
1566:
1435:
592:
576:
548:
344:
208:
524:
504:
380:
339:
296:
629:
Jazz, rock, and reggae musicians recorded "We Three Kings".
1349:
591:
in New York City and after graduating and being ordained a
516:
292:
66:
1312:
The Book of World Famous Music
Classical, Popular and Folk
449:
Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can
352:
1144:. New York City: Church Book Depository. pp. 12–13.
1328:"We Three Kings of Orient Are" (John Henry Hopkins Jr.)
927:. Alfred Music Publishing. March 1, 1985. p. 36.
1680:
559:
At the time he was writing "We Three Kings" in 1857,
491:, both of which it has been frequently compared to.
983:"Bethlehem Inspired American To Write Famous Carol"
1309:
710:"America's first Christmas carol written in Huron"
575:for a New York newspaper and studied to become a
124:"Three Kings of Orient" by John Henry Hopkins Jr.
1704:
1256:Games, Rhymes, and Wordplay of London Children
924:The Christmas Carolers' Book in Song and Story
753:
751:
735:
733:
1365:
531:to him. Though the event is recounted in the
976:
974:
1046:"Stories Behind The Hymns – We Three Kings"
817:
815:
813:
748:
730:
554:
1372:
1358:
1099:
1097:
917:
915:
913:
41:
1643:Church cantatas for the Feast of Epiphany
1039:
1037:
1035:
971:
744:International Music Score Library Project
1103:
980:
810:
1225:
1132:
1094:
1071:
981:Mulligan, Hugh A. (December 22, 1959).
910:
821:
703:
701:
1705:
1252:
1210:Blondie – "We Three Kings" music video
1043:
1032:
950:
857:
853:
851:
849:
847:
718:. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 12B
707:
1424:Great Blessing of Waters at Theophany
1353:
946:
944:
889:
758:Crump, William D. (August 30, 2013).
757:
571:. Although he originally worked as a
476:proceeds to praise the beauty of the
1628:(How Lovely Shines the Morning Star)
1104:Flanagan, Mike (December 19, 1986).
1072:Higgins, Cathy (December 25, 2006).
1044:Shiver, Warren (November 30, 2007).
1009:
896:. Gracewing Publishing. p. 65.
784:
698:
547:—and their status as kings from the
385:Breathes a life of gathering gloom;—
1419:Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
991:. Nashua, New Hampshire. p. 13
957:. Kregel Publications. p. 97.
844:
822:Willson, Ruth (December 24, 1966).
624:
13:
1626:Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
1414:Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
1301:
941:
858:Dunham, Mike (December 19, 1993).
708:Storer, Doug (December 17, 1982).
14:
1744:
1321:
824:"Carol singing popular tradition"
761:The Christmas Encyclopedia, 3d ed
1690:
1665:
1664:
1106:"The origins of Christmas Songs"
1010:Pond, Neil (December 19, 2005).
785:Lowe, Cody (December 24, 1993).
244:O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
1273:
1253:Kelsey, N. G. N. (2019-02-26).
1246:
1219:
1202:
1194:The Jethro Tull Christmas Album
1186:
1178:The Beach Boys' Christmas Album
1170:
1159:
1148:
1126:
1065:
1003:
764:. McFarland. pp. 436–437.
613:hymnal for the Episcopal Church
264:Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
213:Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
170:, and he wrote the carol for a
28:We Three Kings (disambiguation)
1338:"We Three Kings of Orient Are"
883:
787:"The Stories Behind The Songs"
778:
439:
414:Glorious now behold Him arise,
391:Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
249:Star with Royal Beauty bright,
1:
1316:. New York: Crown Publishers.
1232:. August House. p. 254.
692:
563:was serving as the rector of
499:The carol centres around the
424:Hallelujah the earth replies.
416:King, and God, and Sacrifice;
1621:We Three Kings of Orient Are
1448:Feast of the Transfiguration
1379:
1332:Choral Public Domain Library
1229:American Children's Folklore
893:A Book of Feasts and Seasons
609:Christmas Carols Old and New
589:General Theological Seminary
446:
148:We Three Kings of Orient Are
7:
1600:As with Gladness Men of Old
1438:(Ethiopian Orthodox Church)
951:Osbeck, Kenneth W. (1999).
680:
677:by taxi, car, and scooter.
667:
383:is mine; its bitter perfume
10:
1749:
1226:Bronner, Simon J. (1988).
740:"We Three Kings" (Hopkins)
569:Williamsport, Pennsylvania
494:
168:Williamsport, Pennsylvania
25:
18:
1660:
1635:
1590:
1527:
1457:
1387:
1259:. Springer. p. 418.
618:The Oxford Book of Carols
587:. Hopkins studied at the
583:upon graduating from the
181:
128:
120:
112:
102:
92:
84:
74:
55:Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
40:
35:
1723:American Christmas songs
1557:Pilgrimage to Al-Maghtas
1166:Ramsey Lewis discography
1142:Carols, Hymns, and Songs
687:List of Christmas carols
605:Carols, Hymns, and Songs
555:Background and influence
507:as a child in a Manger (
19:Not to be confused with
1155:Percy Faith discography
1138:"Three Kings of Orient"
1134:Hopkins, John Henry Jr.
879:(subscription required)
806:(subscription required)
579:, he chose to join the
565:Christ Episcopal Church
451:download the audio file
164:Christ Episcopal Church
1728:Biblical Magi in music
1652:§ Epiphany BWV 616–617
1612:(Star above Bethlehem)
1176:Jason Birchmeier.
1074:"Creation of classics"
890:Bogle, Joanna (1992).
561:John Henry Hopkins Jr.
515:and gave him gifts of
465:John Henry Hopkins Jr.
160:John Henry Hopkins Jr.
116:8.8.4.4.6 with refrain
97:John Henry Hopkins Jr.
1485:Adoration of the Magi
1450:(Certain Protestants)
1330:: Free scores at the
585:University of Vermont
305:Over us all to reign.
188:Three Kings of Orient
152:The Quest of the Magi
144:Three Kings of Orient
50:Adoration of the Magi
36:Three Kings of Orient
1610:Stern ĂĽber Bethlehem
1308:Fuld, James (1966).
1017:McCook Daily Gazette
1012:"Christmas Classics"
865:Anchorage Daily News
489:Middle Eastern music
158:that was written by
59:Toledo Museum of Art
26:For other uses, see
1514:Baptism of the Lord
1430:Epiphany feast days
832:. Regina. p. 6
715:Evening Independent
509:Matthew 2:1
387:Sorrowing, sighing,
215:Field and fountain,
190:
142:", original title "
107:Matthew 2:1
57:, about 1655–1660.
1605:Brightest and Best
1432:(East Syriac Rite)
1426:(Eastern Orthodox)
1281:"Child of the 80s"
1051:The Gaffney Ledger
217:Moor and mountain,
186:
146:", also known as "
1718:Songs about kings
1678:
1677:
1552:Chalking the door
1545:Cavalcade of Magi
1475:Star of Bethlehem
1470:Flight into Egypt
1444:(Julian Calendar)
1266:978-3-030-02910-4
1239:978-0-87483-068-2
1192:Dave Sleger.
1079:The Albany Herald
792:The Roanoke Times
600:Christmas pageant
533:Gospel of Matthew
511:) sometime after
478:Star of Bethlehem
455:
437:
436:
295:I bring to crown
259:Still proceeding,
254:Westward leading,
219:Following yonder
172:Christmas pageant
136:
135:
1740:
1713:Christmas carols
1695:
1694:
1686:
1668:
1667:
1577:Saint Knut's Day
1519:Marriage at Cana
1442:Little Christmas
1374:
1367:
1360:
1351:
1350:
1317:
1315:
1296:
1295:
1293:
1292:
1283:. Archived from
1277:
1271:
1270:
1250:
1244:
1243:
1223:
1217:
1211:
1206:
1200:
1190:
1184:
1174:
1168:
1163:
1157:
1152:
1146:
1145:
1130:
1124:
1123:
1121:
1119:
1101:
1092:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1069:
1063:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1041:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1025:
1007:
1001:
1000:
998:
996:
978:
969:
968:
948:
939:
938:
919:
908:
907:
887:
881:
880:
877:
875:
873:
855:
842:
841:
839:
837:
819:
808:
807:
804:
802:
800:
782:
776:
775:
755:
746:
742:: Scores at the
737:
728:
727:
725:
723:
705:
625:In popular music
428:
395:
389:Bleeding, dying,
359:
349:All men raising,
333:to offer have I,
309:
263:
258:
253:
248:
243:
191:
185:
45:
33:
32:
1748:
1747:
1743:
1742:
1741:
1739:
1738:
1737:
1703:
1702:
1701:
1689:
1681:
1679:
1674:
1656:
1645:(and following)
1631:
1616:The Three Kings
1592:
1586:
1523:
1465:Herod the Great
1453:
1400:Epiphany season
1383:
1378:
1346:, Cantorion.org
1324:
1307:
1304:
1302:Further reading
1299:
1290:
1288:
1279:
1278:
1274:
1267:
1251:
1247:
1240:
1224:
1220:
1209:
1207:
1203:
1191:
1187:
1175:
1171:
1164:
1160:
1153:
1149:
1131:
1127:
1117:
1115:
1102:
1095:
1085:
1083:
1070:
1066:
1056:
1054:
1042:
1033:
1023:
1021:
1008:
1004:
994:
992:
979:
972:
965:
949:
942:
935:
921:
920:
911:
904:
888:
884:
878:
871:
869:
856:
845:
835:
833:
829:The Leader-Post
820:
811:
805:
798:
796:
783:
779:
772:
756:
749:
738:
731:
721:
719:
706:
699:
695:
683:
670:
656:"We Five Kings"
627:
557:
497:
457:
456:
454:
442:
433:
426:
425:
423:
417:
415:
409:
400:
393:
392:
390:
388:
386:
384:
375:
364:
357:
356:
350:
348:
343:
334:
325:
314:
307:
306:
304:
302:
300:
291:
277:
266:
261:
260:
256:
255:
251:
250:
246:
245:
241:
236:
225:
218:
216:
214:
212:
198:
184:
156:Christmas carol
79:Christmas carol
70:
31:
24:
21:The Three Kings
17:
12:
11:
5:
1746:
1736:
1735:
1733:Epiphany music
1730:
1725:
1720:
1715:
1700:
1699:
1676:
1675:
1673:
1672:
1661:
1658:
1657:
1655:
1654:
1646:
1639:
1637:
1633:
1632:
1630:
1629:
1623:
1618:
1613:
1607:
1602:
1596:
1594:
1588:
1587:
1585:
1584:
1579:
1574:
1569:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1549:
1548:
1547:
1537:
1531:
1529:
1525:
1524:
1522:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1510:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1498:
1497:
1487:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1461:
1459:
1455:
1454:
1452:
1451:
1445:
1439:
1433:
1427:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1410:
1409:
1408:
1407:
1391:
1389:
1385:
1384:
1377:
1376:
1369:
1362:
1354:
1348:
1347:
1341:
1335:
1323:
1322:External links
1320:
1319:
1318:
1303:
1300:
1298:
1297:
1272:
1265:
1245:
1238:
1218:
1201:
1185:
1169:
1158:
1147:
1125:
1111:Ottawa Citizen
1093:
1064:
1031:
1002:
970:
963:
940:
933:
909:
902:
882:
843:
809:
795:. p. NRV5
777:
770:
747:
729:
696:
694:
691:
690:
689:
682:
679:
669:
666:
665:
664:
658:
649:
646:The Beach Boys
643:
637:
626:
623:
556:
553:
503:, who visited
496:
493:
462:
461:
448:
445:
441:
438:
435:
434:
412:
410:
405:
402:
401:
378:
376:
369:
366:
365:
328:
326:
319:
316:
315:
301:King for ever,
280:
278:
271:
268:
267:
239:
237:
230:
227:
226:
201:
199:
194:
183:
180:
140:We Three Kings
134:
133:
130:
126:
125:
122:
118:
117:
114:
110:
109:
104:
100:
99:
94:
90:
89:
86:
82:
81:
76:
72:
71:
46:
38:
37:
16:Epiphany carol
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1745:
1734:
1731:
1729:
1726:
1724:
1721:
1719:
1716:
1714:
1711:
1710:
1708:
1698:
1693:
1688:
1687:
1684:
1671:
1663:
1662:
1659:
1653:
1651:
1650:OrgelbĂĽchlein
1647:
1644:
1641:
1640:
1638:
1634:
1627:
1624:
1622:
1619:
1617:
1614:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1597:
1595:
1589:
1583:
1580:
1578:
1575:
1573:
1572:Moravian star
1570:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1546:
1543:
1542:
1541:
1538:
1536:
1533:
1532:
1530:
1526:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1496:
1493:
1492:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1482:
1481:
1480:Biblical Magi
1478:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1462:
1460:
1456:
1449:
1446:
1443:
1440:
1437:
1434:
1431:
1428:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1406:
1405:Ordinary Time
1403:
1402:
1401:
1398:
1397:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1386:
1382:
1375:
1370:
1368:
1363:
1361:
1356:
1355:
1352:
1345:
1342:
1339:
1336:
1333:
1329:
1326:
1325:
1314:
1313:
1306:
1305:
1287:on 2021-01-28
1286:
1282:
1276:
1268:
1262:
1258:
1257:
1249:
1241:
1235:
1231:
1230:
1222:
1216:
1212:
1205:
1199:
1195:
1189:
1183:
1179:
1173:
1167:
1162:
1156:
1151:
1143:
1139:
1135:
1129:
1113:
1112:
1107:
1100:
1098:
1081:
1080:
1075:
1068:
1053:
1052:
1047:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1019:
1018:
1013:
1006:
990:
989:
988:The Telegraph
984:
977:
975:
966:
964:9780825434310
960:
956:
955:
947:
945:
936:
934:9781457466618
930:
926:
925:
918:
916:
914:
905:
903:9780852442173
899:
895:
894:
886:
867:
866:
861:
854:
852:
850:
848:
831:
830:
825:
818:
816:
814:
794:
793:
788:
781:
773:
771:9781476605739
767:
763:
762:
754:
752:
745:
741:
736:
734:
717:
716:
711:
704:
702:
697:
688:
685:
684:
678:
676:
662:
659:
657:
653:
650:
647:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
631:
630:
622:
620:
619:
614:
610:
606:
601:
596:
594:
590:
586:
582:
578:
574:
570:
566:
562:
552:
550:
546:
542:
538:
534:
530:
529:paying homage
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
502:
501:Biblical Magi
492:
490:
486:
481:
479:
475:
470:
466:
459:
458:
452:
432:
431:
421:
418:Heav’n sings
411:
408:
404:
403:
399:
398:
382:
377:
374:
373:
368:
367:
363:
362:
354:
346:
341:
337:
332:
327:
324:
323:
318:
317:
313:
312:
303:Ceasing never
298:
294:
289:
285:
279:
276:
275:
270:
269:
265:
238:
235:
234:
229:
228:
224:
222:
210:
206:
200:
197:
193:
192:
189:
179:
177:
176:New York City
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
131:
127:
123:
119:
115:
111:
108:
105:
101:
98:
95:
91:
87:
83:
80:
77:
73:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
51:
44:
39:
34:
29:
22:
1697:Christianity
1649:
1620:
1582:Star singers
1540:Epiphany Eve
1495:San Baltasar
1334:(ChoralWiki)
1311:
1289:. Retrieved
1285:the original
1275:
1255:
1248:
1228:
1221:
1204:
1188:
1172:
1161:
1150:
1141:
1128:
1118:December 26,
1116:. Retrieved
1114:. p. H1
1109:
1086:December 26,
1084:. Retrieved
1082:. p. 6B
1077:
1067:
1057:December 28,
1055:. Retrieved
1049:
1024:December 28,
1022:. Retrieved
1015:
1005:
995:December 26,
993:. Retrieved
986:
953:
923:
892:
885:
872:December 27,
870:. Retrieved
868:. p. G1
863:
836:December 26,
834:. Retrieved
827:
799:December 27,
797:. Retrieved
790:
780:
760:
722:December 26,
720:. Retrieved
713:
671:
640:Ramsey Lewis
628:
616:
608:
604:
597:
558:
521:frankincense
513:his Nativity
498:
482:
463:
429:
413:
406:
396:
379:
370:
360:
351:Worship Him
347:and praising
331:Frankincense
329:
320:
310:
281:
272:
240:
232:
231:
202:
195:
187:
151:
147:
143:
139:
137:
48:
1636:Noted works
1344:Sheet music
1020:. p. 6
652:Jethro Tull
634:Percy Faith
485:Middle Ages
440:Composition
205:Three Kings
1707:Categories
1593:and carols
1528:Traditions
1291:2021-02-06
693:References
573:journalist
420:Hallelujah
1567:La Befana
1535:King cake
1490:Balthazar
675:Irish bar
545:Balthazar
372:Balthazar
288:Bethlehem
129:Published
1670:Category
1562:Badalisc
1507:Melchior
1395:Epiphany
1388:Calendar
1381:Epiphany
1198:AllMusic
1182:AllMusic
1136:(1863).
681:See also
668:Parodies
537:Melchior
355:on High.
322:Melchior
154:", is a
103:Based on
1215:YouTube
661:Blondie
654:(2003)
495:Context
474:refrain
430:Refrain
397:Refrain
361:Refrain
338:owns a
336:Incense
311:Refrain
282:Born a
274:Gaspard
233:Refrain
85:Written
1683:Portal
1502:Caspar
1458:Topics
1436:Timkat
1263:
1236:
961:
931:
900:
768:
663:(2009)
648:(1964)
642:(1964)
636:(1958)
593:deacon
581:clergy
577:lawyer
549:Orient
541:Caspar
527:while
460:Source
345:Prayer
299:again,
290:plain,
209:Orient
182:Lyrics
150:" or "
121:Melody
63:Toledo
1591:Hymns
525:myrrh
505:Jesus
381:Myrrh
342:nigh:
340:Deity
113:Meter
75:Genre
1261:ISBN
1234:ISBN
1120:2013
1088:2013
1059:2013
1026:2013
997:2013
959:ISBN
929:ISBN
898:ISBN
874:2013
838:2013
801:2013
766:ISBN
724:2013
543:and
523:and
517:gold
487:and
469:solo
407:All
293:Gold
284:King
221:Star
211:are,
196:All
132:1863
93:Text
88:1857
67:Ohio
47:The
1213:on
1196:at
1180:at
567:in
353:God
297:Him
286:on
207:of
203:We
174:in
166:in
53:by
1709::
1140:.
1108:.
1096:^
1076:.
1048:.
1034:^
1014:.
985:.
973:^
943:^
912:^
862:.
846:^
826:.
812:^
789:.
750:^
732:^
712:.
700:^
539:,
519:,
223:.
65:,
61:,
1685::
1373:e
1366:t
1359:v
1294:.
1269:.
1242:.
1122:.
1090:.
1061:.
1028:.
999:.
967:.
937:.
906:.
876:.
840:.
803:.
774:.
726:.
453:.
427:—
422::
394:—
358:—
308:—
262:—
257:—
252:—
247:—
242:—
138:"
69:.
30:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
