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      • I saw three ships
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      • O little town of Bethlehem
      • Silent Night
      • When a child is born
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      • Lord, don't give up on me
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    • If you're happy
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    • Mary had a little lamb
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    • Twinkle little star
    • Where has my little dog gone

I  SAW  THREE  SHIPS

Time signature:  6/8
Tempo: ~  bpm.
Traditional
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:  Notation & youTube keys need to be checked, and tempo info added.

Accordion Notation
Return to BA5 - Unit 3
Beats per bar = 2
Beat symbol  =  Semicolon (  ;  )   or  equivalent   (  .    "  )   
Either row (high) =  Buttons 5 - 8
Either row  (low) =  Buttons  2 - 5

Verse 1 (of 3)


"5   |   .6      "6      .7*      "7     |    .8     "7   .7*
"2   |   .3      "3      .3*      "4     |    .5     "4   .3*
  I      saw  three  ships  come      sail - ing   in    /

"8*  |    .7      "6     .6     "7   |     .7*    "6*    .5  
"4*  |    .4      "3     .3     "4   |     .3*    "2*    .2  
On    Christ-mas  Day,  on      Christ-mas  Day  /

"5   |   .6     "6       .7*     "7      |   .8     "7    .7*     
"2   |   .3     "3       .3*     "4      |   .5     "4    .3*     

  I      saw  three  ships  come     sail - ing   in   /


"8*   |    .7     "6      "6   "7*   "7   |    ;7*     .6     
"4*   |    .4     "3      "3   "3*   "4   |    ;3*     .3    
On     Christ-mas  Day   in    the     morn - ing 
 /


Embedded youTube VIDEOS

Key:  C  from time 0 to 2;02
         D  from  2:02  to  end

Group:  Blackmore's Night

​Posted by:  lethallan13

Key:  G ?

Accordionist:   Lester Bailey

​Posted by:  Lester Bailey

Singing Key:  C  (D near end)?

Musical Interludes Key:  G ?
​

Group:  The Feddigans -
    
Remagener Stadtorchester
    und der Greenwood School
    of Irish Dancing

​Posted by:  ​Wolfgang Schwarz


Key:  F (mostly)

Singer:  Nat King Cole

Posted by:  Natale

​Mr. Cole sings his verses in key of F.  Chorus seems different.

Key:  F

Singer:   Bruce Cockburn

Posted by: merkee

​The verses are separated by lengthy musical interludes, which may not lend themselves to the button accordion.
​

Key:  G

Group:  Barenaked Ladies  

​Posted by:  flowerlyrics

Key:  D 

Group: Manor House String
            Quartet  (Vaughan
           Jones, Louise Bevan,
           Adrian Smith, Tony
​          Wollard)

Posted by: Manor House Music


Key:  Ab ?

Singer:  Mario Lanza

​Posted by:
​              MegaMusiclover1234

​

Key:  E

Singer:  Raymond Crooke

Posted by: raymondcrooke

Key:   G

Group:   The Chieftains

Posted by: papadai0510

Key:  G

Accordionist:   ?

​Posted by:  The Christmas Box 
                   - Melodeon Carols

Key:  

Singer:  Anthony Archibald

Posted by: threelegsoman

​Key:  

Group:  The Canadian Brass

Posted by: Chris Fosnot

Background Materials, Information & Links

​Lyrics:

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning

Wither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
Wither sailed those ships all three
On Christmas Day in the morning

Oh they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
They sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas Day in the morning

And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas Day in the morning

And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas Day in the morning
​
Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day

Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas Day in the morning.
​

Background Link:
Click HERE for additional info about this song.


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