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“We Three Kings”, also known as “We Three Kings of Orient Are” or “The Quest of the Magi”, 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.
Sing-Along Video with Lyrics
Lyrics
1. 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
2. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light
3. Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer 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
4. 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
5. 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
Click here for more free printable Christmas lyrics.
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Free karaoke MP3 download
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“We Three Kings” (instrumental, 3:02 – 3/8 – 125 bpm)
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Song History
It was all the fault of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh. From that brief mention of the gifts presented by the Wise Men to the child Jesus, as related in Matthew 2:11, evolved a very persistent and pervasive bit of religious folklore. The fine and expensive gifts, in the logic of the myth, meant that the visitors had to be of very high station, such as kings. The same logic pattern determined that the three types of offering had to correspond with the number of persons involved. Accordingly the erroneous but basically harmless illusion of “the Three Kings” has become a deeply embedded imperfection of our annual observance of Christmas.


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