The 12 Posts of Christmas, Day 4: Of Kings and Road Trips

Inside: I’ve been humming this Christmas carol over the course of several weeks, so I went to investigate how kings and road trips became a song.

Of Kings and Road Trips

The man responsible for this classic Christmas hymn was author and composer John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1820-1891). Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he spent his young adulthood in the New England region, studying at the University of Vermont and the General Theological Seminary in New York where he became the first church music instructor and founding editor of the Church Journal. Through these early ministry positions, he became known as a leading Episcopal church musician. In 1857, he wrote “We Three Kings”–originally titled “Three Kings of Orient” but also known as “We Three Kings of Orient Are” or “The Quest of the Magi.” He also composed the music, a feat in itself as the music and lyrics were usually written separately for carols.

Inspired by the narrative of the journey of the magi in Matthew 2:1-12, Hopkins wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City and designed the song to be performed in such a way that three male voices would each sing a verse corresponding to each king (Kings Gaspard, Melchior, and Balthazar) and the gift each brought. The first verse and the fifth were meant to be sung together, though these days the carol is mostly sung without solo parts.

After its debut, “We Three Kings” was sung for family and friends, but because it was so well received among them, Hopkins decided to publish the carol in his book Carols, Hymns, and Songs (1863). This beloved song was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America.

On a personal note, I’m normally a traditionalist when it comes to the performance of Christmas carols, but I actually really like the Beach Boys’ version. I do wish they’d performed the last two verses, though. Still, a great version.