Christmas carol countdown: December 3: We Three Kings

We Three Kings is a Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns and Song in 1863…

hmm what else does the wiki say?… It was originally used in a Christmas pageant… Author was a musician. What does the interwebz say?… Same… same… Oh he was stained glass window designer. Now about the song… Nothing. That’s it. I’ll insert my own then. The verses display a different wise man and his gift. The first verse telling who they are and why they make a trek. The second verse showing the gold, marking a king. The third verse showing frankincense, marking the Deity. And the fourth verse has myrrh, a spice they put on a dead man’s body, showing sacrifice. The last verse is the ending of their journey. that’s it. No funny comment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHf1p3C8iVw

The video has all but the middle verse. average audio but I like it.

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to rein

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray’r and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav’n replies

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light