Mr. Newell gives versions, as played in America, similar to many here given, and Mr. Northall (_Folk Rhymes_, p. 385) gives one from Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.
[10] Incomplete, there is more of the game, but the maid could not remember it.
[11] Probably once "boy," pronounced "by" in Essex.
I. Three little ships come sailing by, Sailing by, sailing by; Three little ships come sailing by, New Year's day in the morning.
Who do you think was in the ships, In the ships, in the ships; Who do you think was in the ships, New Year's day in the morning?
Three pretty girls were in the ships, In the ships, in the ships; Three pretty girls were in the ships, New Year's day in the morning.
One could whistle, and one could sing, One could play on the violin; One could whistle, and one could sing, New Year's day in the morning.
II. I saw three ships come sailing by, Come sailing by, come sailing by; I saw three ships come sailing by On New Year's day in the morning.
And what do you think was in them then, In them then, in them then; And what do you think was in them then, On New Year's day in the morning?
Three pretty girls were in them then, &c.
One could whistle, and one could sing, The other could play on the violin; Such joy was there at my wedding, On New Year's day in the morning.
III. As I sat on a sunny bank, A sunny bank, a sunny bank; As I sat on a sunny bank On Christmas day in the morning.
I saw three ships come sailing by, Come sailing by, come sailing by; I saw three ships come sailing by On Christmas day in the morning.
And who do you think was in those ships? &c. But Joseph and his lady.
And he did whistle, and she did sing, And all the bells on earth did ring For joy our Saviour he was born On Christmas day in the morning.
--Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 564.
[The above verses, except the last one, are sung at Oswestry with these additional ones:--]
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three? &c. Oh! they sailed unto Bethlehem, &c. They combed his hair with an ivory comb, &c. They washed his face in a golden cup, &c. They wiped his face with a lily-white cloth, &c. They brushed his shoes with a hairy brush, &c.
--Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 564.
(_c_) In the London version, which I obtained from a maid-servant--two lines of children stand, hand in hand, facing one another. They advance and retire in line, with dancing steps, alternately. The children sing the lines. When the last verse is sung a girl from the end of each line advances, and the two dance round together. This is continued until all have danced in turn in the space between the lines.