We Three Kings
We Three Kings: history, origin, meaning and why this traditional Christmas carol still belongs on the December songbook.
John Henry Hopkins Jr. wrote both words and music for this distinctive carol about the journey and gifts of the Magi.
- Origin
- United States
- Era
- 1857
Why it belongs in the Christmas songbook
We Three Kings survives because it has a strong musical identity. You can usually recognise it before the first line is finished, which is exactly what a seasonal song needs after generations of repetition.
Listening tip
Try one traditional choir or acoustic arrangement before reaching for the modern pop versions. Old carols often make more sense when you hear the space, tempo and harmonies they were built around.
Rights note: the underlying historical composition may be public domain, but modern recordings and arrangements can have separate copyright. Use recordings you are licensed to play.