As I Sat On A Sunny Bank

For Christmas Day

Version 2

Words and Music: English Traditional

Source: Cecil J. Sharp, English Folk-Carols (London: Novello & Co., Ltd., 1911), p. 28; This is the first of three versions printed by Sharp in this volume.

1. As I sat on a sunny bank,
As I sat on a sunny bank,
As I sat on a sunny bank,
On Christmas Day all in the morning.

2. I saw three ships come sailing home,
I saw three ships come sailing home,
I saw three ships come sailing home.
On Christmas Day all in the morning.

3. Who do you think were in those ships?
Who do you think were in those ships?
Who do you think were in those ships?
On Christmas Day all in the morning.

4. Christ and His Mother were in those ships,
Christ and His Mother were in those ships,
Christ and His Mother were in those ships.

Sheet Music From Sharp
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML

Notes from Sharp:

The first version was sung to me by a whilom resident of Wootton-under-Edge (Gloucestershire) as it was performed by the children of that village many years ago. The words are given without alteration.

The second and third versions were sung, respectively, by Mrs. Beachy and Mr. Grimmet at Shipston-on-Stour (Worcestershire). Mr. Grimmet’s words are printed exactly as he sang them; one small change has been made in Mrs. Beechy’s words— “were” for “was” in the third stanza.

The tune of the second version will be recognised as a variant of the well known “Nancy Dawson” air. Mr. Grimmet, having presumably forgotten the proper air, sang his words to the hymn tune “Sun of my Soul”.

The words of the second version are almost exactly the same as those printed on a broadside by Wadsworth of Birmingham. The text of the third version is different from all the published versions that I have seen.

The carol is very widely known. Traditional versions with tunes may be seen in Sandys, Bramley and Stainer, English County Songs and elsewhere.

Ritson in his Scotch Songs (I, p. civ) quotes the following lines, and says that they were sung during the Christmas holidays about the middle of the sixteenth century

There comes a ship far sailing then,
Saint Michel was the stieres-man
Saint John sat in the horn:
Our Lord harped, our Lady sang,
And all the bells of heaven they rang,
On Christ’s sonday at morn.

Versions On This Web Site:

• As I Sat On A Sunny Bank - Version 1 (Ralph Dunstan, with music)

• As I Sat On A Sunny Bank - Version 2 (Cecil Sharp, from Gloucestershire, with music and notes) (this page)

• As I Sat On A Sunny Bank - Version 3 (Cecil Sharp, from Worcestershire, with music)

• As I Sat On A Sunny Bank - Version 4 (Broadwood and Maitland, with music)

• The Sunny Bank - Version 5 (A Good Christmas Box)

• I Saw Three Ships - Version 1 (With Notes)

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