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.