THE CHERRY TREE CAROL

When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he,
He married Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee,
He married Virgin Mary, the queen of Galilee.

Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green,
There were berries and cherries as thick as might be seen
There were berries and cherries as thick as might be seen

And Mary spoke to Joseph, so meek and so mild,
"Joseph gather me some cherries, for I am with child,
Joseph gather me some cherries, for I am with child."

And Joseph flew in anger, in anger flew he,
"Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee,
Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee."

Then up spoke the baby Jesus from in Mary's womb,
"Bend down the tallest tree that my mother might have some,
Bend down the tallest tree that my mother might have some."

And bent down the tallest branch, 'till it touched Mary's hand,
Cried she, "Oh look thou Joseph I have cherries by command,"
Cried she, "Oh look thou Joseph I have cherries by command."

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Child #54

This is one of the most popular of English religious folk
ballads. Its tale derives from the Pseudo-Matthew gospel, and in
medieval times was frequently dramatized in folk plays and
mystery pageants including, among others, those performed by the
Grey Friars in Coventry. Fuller versions of the ballad sometimes
contain predictions of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection.
From "British Ballads and Folk Songs from the Joan Baez
Songbook."