The Three Kings / I Would Now Sing For

The Three Kings

Alternate Title: I Would Now Sing For And I Might

For The Epiphany

Words: English Traditional
Harleian MS, No. 541, fol. 214, ro

Compare: The Three Kings - Version 2 (Husk)
Three Kings, The - Version 3 (Sylvester)
Both With Notes

Music: H. Heale
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Source: Carol #656, Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)

1. I would now sing for and I might,
Of a child so fair to sight,
A Virgin bore this winter’s night,
So still-a!
There came three Kings from Galilee,
To Bethlehem that fair citie,
To see Him that should ever be,
Lord, and King, and Knight-a,
Lord, and King, and Knight.

2. As they went with their offering
They met Herod that stern King;
He ask’d them of their coming
That way-a;
"From whence come ye, ye monarchs three?"
"From the East as you may see!
To seek Him that should ever be,
Lord, and King, and Knight-a
Lord, and King, and Knight."

3. "When you unto this child have been,
Come you home this way again,
And tell me all that ye have seen,
I pray-a;"
Of Herod then that moody King,
Both old and young their leave taking,
Forth went they with their offering,
Led by a star so bright-a,
By a star so bright.

4. Till they came to that blissful place,
Where Jesus with His Mother was,
They worship’d there with great solace,
In fere-a;
And when they had their offering made,
According as the Lord them bade,
Of all the treasures that they had,
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrah-a,
Frankincense and Myrrh.

5. Anon, as on their way they went,
God the Lord an angel sent
To those three Kings that made present,
To say-a;
The Lord doth warn you ev’ry one
To go not by King Herod home,
For if we do ye are undone,
And woe will come full soon-a,
Woe will come full soon.

6. So forth they went another way,
Through the might of God that day
And did the angel to them say,
Full right-a;
When they were come to their countree,
so glad and merry were all three
To tell the sight that they did see
By that star’s shining light-a,
That star’s shining light.

7. Now let us kneel all here adown,
To that Lord of great renown,
Who worthy is to wear the crown,
Full right-a;
Now is the time of Christmas come,
the Father, who, now with the Son,
And with the Holy Ghost, is One,
Send us a good new year-a
Send us a good new year.

Sheet Music from Charles L. Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)

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Three_Kings

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Editor's Note: