I Saw Three Ships

3ships.jpg

Lyrics:
G
I saw three ships come sailing in
D
On Christmas day, on Christmas day
G
I saw three ships come sailing in
D G
On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, etc. And what was in etc. On Christmas day
in etc.

Our Saviour, Christ, and His Lady.

Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?

O, they sailed to Bethlehem.

And all the bells on earth shall ring.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing.

And all the souls on earth shall sing.

Then let us all rejoice and sing.

Tradidional / Arr. Roger McGuinn
(c) 1999 McGuinn Music

Mary Had A Baby

Mary.jpg

This is an old Christmas spiritual that I found without a melody. In keeping with the folk process, I came up with a tune.

My guitar is tuned down to C#, where Lead Belly used to tune his Stella 12-string.

Lyrics:
[E] Mary had a baby oh my Lord
[A] Mary had a baby oh my Lord
[G] Mary had a baby [B7] oh my Lord
[A] People keep a-comin' an' the [B7] train done gone

What did she name Him oh my Lord
What did she name Him oh my Lord
What did she name Him oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

She named Him Jesus oh my Lord
She named Him Jesus oh my Lord
She named Him Jesus oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

Where was He born oh my Lord
Where was He born oh my Lord
Where was He born oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

Born in a stable oh my Lord
Born in a stable oh my Lord
Born in a stable oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

And where did she lay Him oh my Lord
And where did she lay Him oh my Lord
And where did she lay Him oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

She laid Him in a manger oh my Lord
She laid Him in a manger oh my Lord
She laid Him in a manger oh my Lord
People keep a-comin' an' the train done gone

Copyright (c) 1998
Roger McGuinn
McGuinn Music

What Child Is This

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(Lyrics 18?? by William Chatterton Dix, to the melody of 'Greensleeves')
Lyrics:
Em D

What child is this,who, laid to rest,

C B7

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Em D

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

C B7 Em

While shepherds watch are keeping.

G D

cho: This, this is Christ the King,

C Bm

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

G D

Haste, haste, to bring him laud

C B7 Em

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come, peasant, King to own Him;
The King of Kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Special thanks to Bruce Kula for 12-string guitar accompaniment.
Merry Christmas 1996! All the best ….. Roger

Easter

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This is a song that was performed by Lead Belly on his 12-string guitar. It's interesting to note that although it's in the key of E minor, Leadbelly played only major chords while singing the minor melody line, as he did with all his songs in a minor key. The effect is very unusual and quite appealing.
Lyrics:
[E] On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose [B7] for me
[E] One day when I was [E7]lost
They [A] hung Him on a [E] cross
They [A] hung Him on a [B7] cross for [E] me

The sky turned dark and gray
The sky turned dark and gray
The sky turned dark and gray for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

He bowed His head and died
He bowed His head and died
He bowed His head and died for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

They laid Him in a tomb
They laid Him in a tomb
They laid Him in a tomb for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

Virgin Mary

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Around Christmas time each year at the old Gate of Horn in Chicago, folk singers would perform slow legato versions of this old spiritual. They were usually sopranos accompanying themselves on the autoharp. I often wondered what this song would have sounded like on the 12-string, so here is my interpretation with lots of bass runs on the big Martin D-12-45,in the style of the great 12-string legend, Lead Belly.
Lyrics:
[Em] The Virgin Mary had a little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
[Am] Oh oh pretty little baby
[Em] Glory be to the [B7] new born [Em] king

Mary what-cha gonna name your pretty little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh pretty little baby
Glory be to the new born king

Well some call Him one thing I know His name is Jesus
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh I know His name is Jesus
Glory be to the new born king

Some call Him one thing I'm gonna call Him Savior
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh I'm gonna call Him Savior
Glory be to the new born king

The Virgin Mary had a little baby
Oh oh glory hallelujah
Oh oh pretty little baby
Glory be to the new born king