Ballads & Songs of Southern Michigan-songbook

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	368 Ballads and Songs of Michigan 152 AS I SAT ON THE SUNNY BANK A cutOL with the title "I Saw Three Ships" is followed by a note which states that "The present carol is a version common amongst the people," and calls attention to the singular verse (Joshua Sylvester, A Garland of Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern [John Camden Hotten, Piccadilly, 1861], pp. 18-21). The version given here was communicated in 1916 by Mr. H. Parkes Pinson, Ecorse, who memorized the song from the singing of his mother; she had learned it in the coal Melds of Shropshire, England. 1 As I sat on the sunny bank, As I sat on the sunny bank, As I sat on the sunny bank, On Christmas day in the morning. 2 I spied three ships go sailing by, I spied three ships go sailing by, I spied three ships go sailing by, On Christmas day in the morning. 3 And who should be in these three ships, And who should be in these three ships, And who should be in these three ships, But Joseph and fair Annie, his lady. 4 And he did whistle, and she did sing, And he did whistle, and she did sing, For Christ our Savior he was born On Christmas day in the morning.