The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 2 of 2) / With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes, and Methods of Playing etc.

by Alice Bertha Gomme

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.

—London (A. B. Gomme).

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.