The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #106986   Message #2218112
Posted By: Uncle_DaveO
18-Dec-07 - 10:32 AM
Thread Name: Mary, Marry, Merry
Subject: Lyr Add: THE CHERRY TREE CAROL
Azizi, since you say "in their title or lyrics", we have The Cherry Tree Carol, Child #54. There are two versions in the DT, neither being totally the set which I know, which is as follows:

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.

As Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green,
Here were apples, here were cherries in plenty to be seen
Here were apples, here were cherries in plenty to 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 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."

The cherry tree bent low down, bent low down to the ground
And Mary gathered cherries, while Joseph stood around
And Mary gathered cherries, while Joseph stood around

Now Joseph took Mary upon his left knee
"Oh, what have I done, Lord? Have mercy on me!
Oh, what have I done, Lord? Have mercy on me!"

And Joseph took baby Jesus all on his right knee
"Oh, tell me, pretty baby, when thy birthday shall be
Oh, tell me, pretty baby, when thy birthday shall be."

"The sixth day of January*, my birthday shall be,
When the stars in the elements shall tremble with glee!
When the stars in the elements shall tremble with glee!"

* The Sixth Day of January, or "Old Christmas", before the change to the calendar we use today.

I have this version from the singing of Andrew Rowan Summers, with dulcimer, on Folkways FP41, 1954.

Dave Oesterreich