"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol written by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music as part of a Christmas pageant for the General Theological Seminary in New York City.

Hopkins composed the song in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he was a pastor at Christ Episcopal Church (which still stands at the corner of Fourth and Mulberry Streets).

Recordings

• The Beach Boys recorded a version with an orchestral arrangement by Dick Reynolds on their 1964 album The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.
• The Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan did a version of this song which they combined with another carol, " God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," for their 2004 Christmas album Barenaked for the Holidays.
• Harry Connick, Jr. on his 2008 album What a Night! A Christmas Album.
• Odds originally recorded a version of the song on the 1991 A Lump of Coal compilation. It reappeared most recently on their 2000 greatest hits album Singles: Individually Wrapped.
• Kamelot played an instrumental of "We Three Kings" on their first live album.
• Burl Ives sings this song on his album Christmas at the White House (1972).
• Aly & AJ did a cover of this song on their 2006 Christmas album Acoustic Hearts of Winter.
• Toby Keith covered the song on his 2007 album A Classic Christmas.
• Patti Smith - A Very Special Christmas 3 album, (1997)
• Bradley Joseph - solo piano arrangement on his 2008 album, Classic Christmas.
• Andrew Parrott and the Taverner Consort on their 1993 EMI album The Carols Album 2, using the original arrangement.
• John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers on their 1997 album Christmas Star
• Martin Neary and the Choir of Westminster Abbey on their 1997 album Christmas Carols from Westminster Abbey
• Antony Pitts and Tonus Peregrinus on the 2003 album The Naxos Book of Carols
• Lycia on their 2001 release Compilation Appearances Volume 2
• Jonas Brothers recorded "Joyful Kings," a combination of this song and "Joy to the World" for the Target exclusive Christmas album All Wrapped Up.
• Blackhawk covered the song in 1998 on the "Country Cares for Kids" album.
• Overboard recorded a dance remix version for their 2008 holiday album, "Tidings".
• Steve Ouimette recorded an instrumental version of "We Three Kings" as a playable track in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
• Rob Halford covers this song for his solo album Halford III - Winter Songs
• Tori Amos recorded a version of the carol for her solstice album, Midwinter Graces

See also

• Three Wise Men

References

1. www.naxoscarols.com

Further reading

External links

• Images of early editions of the carol and historical information[91295]
• Free typeset sheet music from Cantorion.org