English composer Peter Warlock (né Philip Heseltine, 1894-1930) wrote this mysterious little carol, a variant on the traditional I Saw Three Ships, in 1923. It didn't get pagan words until nearly eighty years later, but—considering Warlock's lifelong interest in the occult—we can be sure that he would be delighted to know that the witches were singing his carol at their Yuletide festivities. Absolutely delighted.
As for the meaning of those three mysterious ships...well, all will be revealed.
Just watch this blog.
As I sat under a sycamore tree,
a sycamore tree, a sycamore tree,
I looked me out upon the sea,
a Midwinter's day in the morning.
I saw three ships come sailing there,
come sailing there, come sailing there:
the Horned One and His Lady they bare,
a Midwinter's day in the morning.
He did pipe and She did sing,
She did sing, She did sing,
and all the Morris bells did ring,
a Midwinter's day in the morning.
And now we hope to taste your cheer,
taste your cheer, taste your cheer,
and wish you all a Happy New Year:
a Midwinter's day in the morning.