Joseph Was A Young Man- Sloan KY 1917 Sharp E
[My title. From English Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachians; collected by Cecil Sharp, Vol. 1; the 1932 edition published London: Oxford University Press / Humphrey Milford, 1932, Maud Karpeles, ed. Additional text from Sharp's MS by Bronson, no. 15.
Concerning the Cherry Tree Carol versions, the note on page 415 states: The references to the birthday do not appear in the English texts. It is of interest that the date is given in the texts B and C as 'the fifth day of January', which according to 'Old Style' reckoning was the date of Christmas Day between the years 1752 and 1799. In 1751, when a change in the calendar had become expedient, eleven days were dropped out between September 2nd and 14th, 1752, thus making January 4th the date of Old Christmas Day. In 1800, another day was taken from the calendar, and in 1900 still another, so that Old Christmas Day now falls on January 7th. In Miss McGill's version [Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains] the date is given as the 6th of January.
Sharp C was collected from William Wooten, the same informant as McGill's (see above). This version has some confusion in the 7th verse which may be why Sharp didn't include the text. This is one of the prophecies of Jesus which I consider to be are the second part of the ballad. McCabe (1980) dates this and the Appalachian versions pre-1700 because of the reference to old Christmas (usually celebrated on January 6, even today!)
R. Matteson 2012; 2014]
[Joseph Was A Young Man]- Sung by Mrs. Alice and Mrs. Sudie Sloan at Barbourville, Knox Co., Ky., May 8, 1917
Pentatonic. Mode 3.
Joseph was a young man,
How young may he be,
When he courted Virgin Mary,
The Queen of Galilee,
When he courted Virgin Mary,
The Queen of Galilee.
2. Joseph and Mary
Was a-walking one day,
There was apples and cherries
A-plenty to behold. [repeat last two lines throughout]
3. Mary spoke to Joseph
So meek and so mild:
Go gather me cherries, Joseph,
For I am with child.
4. Joseph spoke to Mary
So angry were he:
Let the father of your baby
Gather cherries for thee.
5. Up spoke our Blessed Saviour
All in his mother's ease[1]:
Bow low, low down, cherry tree,
And let my mother eat.
6. It stopped and it bended,
It bent like a bow,
Till Mary gathered cherries
From the uppermost bough.
7. Then Joseph took Mary[2]
All on his right knee:
Now tell to me, my pretty babe,
When your birthday shall be.
8. The very first Sunday,
On old Christmas day,
When the rocks and the mountains,
Are bending down to me,
When the stars in the elements
Are shining so free.
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1. womb
2. 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,