Joseph and Mary- unknown fiddler (KY) pre1953 Seeger
[No informant named, no date given. From: Ruth Crawford Seeger: American Folk Songs for Children, 1948 also Seeger's Songs for Christmas 1953 and recorded on Folkways FC 7553 in 1966. It's included on The Long Harvest sung by Peggy Seeger w/ banjo. Notes: "This fine variant of the Cherry Tree Carol is unusual having been originally sung solo with a prelude and interlude on fiddle." The sixth verse after the interlude is sung with a different melody. Cf. The Wooten version which was collected by McGill and Sharp (version C) in Kentucky.
The only fiddler I know that might have played this is Jilson Setters (perhaps recorded by Jean Thomas years before), however no informant is named. Ruth Seeger, a composer, arranged folk music for Carl Sandburg and Charles Seeger was a collector with many resources. It's seems like an adaptation of the Wooten version or perhaps Lee Skeens.
Listen: Joseph and Mary- Peggy Seeger (Seeger has changed a few lyrics)
R. Matteson 2014]
Joseph and Mary- sung by an unknown fiddler from Kentucky
1. Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he,
He married Virgin Mary,
The Queen of Galilee.
2. As Joseph and Mary was walkin'
Was walkin' one day;
"Here are apples, here are cherries,"
Mary did say.
3. Then Mary said to Joseph
So meek and so mild:
"Joseph, gather me some cherries,
For I am with child."
4. Then Joseph flew in anger,
In anger flew he:
"Let the father of the baby
Gather cherries for thee."
5. Jesus spoke a few words,
A few words spoke he:
"Give my mother have some cherries;
Bow down, cherry tree."
[interlude]
6. Bow down cherry-tree,
Low down to the ground,
Mary gathered cherries
And Joseph stood around.
7. Joseph took Mary
All on his right knee:
"What have I done, Lord?
Have mercy on me!"[1]
8. Then Joseph took Mary,
All on his left knee:
"O, tell me, little baby,
When thy birth day will be."
9. "On the sixth day of January
My birth day will be,
When the stars in the elements
Will tremble with glee."
1. This version (as found in the Appalachian versions) is different than the English versions. Here, Joseph is putting Mary on his knee and is talking (although it's unclear) to baby Jesus in the womb. Standard English version appears:
When Mary took Jesus,
All on her right knee,