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 good,
There were cherries, there were berries,
As red as any blood.
There were cherries, there were berries,
As red as any blood.

Then 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.”

Then Joseph grew in anger,
In anger grew he,
“Let the father of thy baby
Gather cherries for thee!
“Let the father of thy baby
Gather cherries for thee!

Then Jesus spoke a few words,
A few words spoke he:
“Let my mother have some cherries,
Bow low down, cherry tree.”
“Let my mother have some cherries,
Bow low down, cherry tree.”

The cherry tree bowed low down,
Bowed low down to the ground,
And Mary gathered cherries
While Joseph stood around.
And Mary gathered cherries
While Joseph stood around.

Then Joseph took Mary
All on his right knee,
“My Lord, what have I done?
Have mercy on me.”
“My Lord, what have I done?
Have mercy on me.”

Then Joseph took Mary
All on his left knee,
“Pray tell me, little Baby,
When thy birthday will it be?
“Pray tell me, little Baby,
When thy birthday will it be?

“On the Sixth day of January
My birthday it will be,
And the stars in the elements
Will tremble with glee.”
And the stars in the elements
Will tremble with glee.”

As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing,
“Tonight shall be the birth time
Of Christ our Heav’nly King.”
“Tonight shall be the birth time
Of Christ our Heav’nly King.”

“He neither shall be born
In house nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox’s stall.”
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox’s stall.”

“He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in cloth,
But in the bare white linen
That useth babies all.”
But in the bare white linen
That useth babies all.”

“He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden manger
That rests upon the mold.”
But in a wooden manger
That rests upon the mold.”

As Joseph was a-walking
And an angel did sing,
And Mary’s child at midnight
Was born to be our King.
And Mary’s child at midnight
Was born to be our King.

Then be ye glad ye people
This night of all the year,
And light ye up your candles
For his star it shineth clear.
And light ye up your candles
For his star it shineth clear.

Cherrywood, frankincense, amber, red berries, cherries, white rose petals, and myrrh.