Browse Carols: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # The Cherry Tree Carol 11 1. Joseph was an old man, And an old man was he, When he married Mary The Queen of Galilee. 2. Joseph and Mary walked Through a garden gay, Where the cherries they grew Upon every tree. 3. Joseph and Mary walked Through an orchard good Where were cherries and berries As red as any blood.1 Joseph upon learning that the union with his "cousin Mary" is about to be blessed by a babe, suddenly becomes jealous and unkind. The carol continues: 4. O then bespoke Mary, With words both meek and mild, "Gather me some cherries, Joseph, They run so in my mind. The next verse gives Joseph's uncouth answer, that if she wants cherries she must ask somebody else to gather them for her, as he is not inclined to do so. The spirit of the unborn Jesus, however, hears the rebuke, and he commands his mother: 5. "Go to the tree, Mary, And it shall bow to thee, And the highest branch of all Shall bow down to Mary's knee. 6. "Go to the tree, Mary, And it shall bow to thee, And you shall gather cherries, By one, by two, and three." 7. Then bowed down the highest tree Unto his Mother's hand: "See," Mary cried, "see, Joseph, I have cherries at command!"2 Joseph relents at the harsh words he has spoken, and replies: 8. "O eat your cherries, Mary, O eat your cherries now, O eat your cherries, Mary, That grow upon the bough."3 Time is supposed to have elapsed, and the scene has changed. 9. As Joseph was a-walking He heard an angel sing: "This night shall be born Our Heavenly King; 10. "He neither shall be born In housen, nor in hall, Nor in the place of Paradise, But in an ox's stall; 11. "He neither shall be clothed, In purple nor in pall But all in fair linen, As were babies all: 12. "He neither shall be rocked In silver nor in gold, But in a wooden cradle, That rocks on the mould; 13. "He neither shall be cristened In white wine nor red, But with fair spring water With which we were christened." More time has elapsed, and the scene again changes. 14. Then Mary took her young Son, And set him on her knee: "I pray thee now, dear child, Tell how this world shall be?" 15. "O, I shall be as dead, Mother, As the stones in the wall; O, the stones in the street, Mother, Shall mourn for me all.4 16. "And upon a Wednesday My vow I will make, And upon Good Friday My death I will take; 17. "Upon Easter-day, Mother My uprising shall be; Oh, the sun and the moon, Mother, Shall both rise with me." Browse Carols: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #