The Cherry Tree Carol- Maud Long (NC) 1946 Rec.
[Maud Long was Jane Gentry's daughter. The same ballad was collected by Cecil Sharp from Gentry (See: Cherry Tree Carol Genrty 1916 Sharp B) The text are nearly identical except for Long repeating the last line of each stanza.
Joan Baez based her version on the Maud Long (via Jane Gentry) version.
R. Matteson 2012]
Recording Laboratory AFS L14
ANGLO-AMERICAN SONGS AND BALLADS
From the Archive of Folk Song Edited by Duncan Emrlich
A2-THE CHERRY TREE CAROL
Sung by Mrs. Maud Long at Hot Springs, N. C, 1946. Recorded by Artus M. Moser.
The source of "The Cherry-Tree Carol" is found in the Pseudo-Matthew's gospel, chapter 20, which is briefly summarized by Professor Child: "On the third day of the flight into Egypt, Mary, feeling the heat to be oppressive, tells Joseph that she will rest for a while under the palm tree. Joseph helps her light from her beast, and Mary, looking up from under the tree, and seeing it full of fruit. asks for some. Joseph somewhat testily expresses his surprise that she should think of such a thing, considering the height of the tree; he is much more concerned to get a supply of water. Then Jesus, sitting on his mother's lap, bids the palm to bow down and refresh his mother with its fruit. The palm instantly bends its top to Mary's feet."
The story as we have it in the carol is altered considerably. The palm becomes a cherry-tree; Joseph's reply ill-humoredly insinuates that Mary has been unfaithful; and the Lord, rather than Jesus, speaks and orders the tree to bow down. In other American versions, however, the Child miraculously speaks from Mary's womb to order the miracle. Here He speaks only in answer to the question about His birth date. It is of interest that the "fifth day of January" was, according to "Old Style" reckoning, the date of Christmas Day between the years 1752 and 1799. In 1751, when a change in the calendar had become necessary, eleven days were dropped out between September 2 and 14, 1752, thus making January 5 the date of Old Christmas Day. In 1800, another day was dropped and in 1900 still another, so that Old Christmas Day now falls on January 7. [Old Christmas is/was generally observed in the Appalachians on Jan. 6]
For further information and references, see the following two works from which this text was largely drawn: Arthur Kyle Davis, Traditional Ballads of Virginia (Harvard University Press, 1929), pp. 172-74; Cecil J. Sharp, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (Oxford University Press, 1932), I, pp. 90--94 and notes, p. 414.
1. Joseph were a young man, a young man were he,
And he courted Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee,
And he courted Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee.
2. Mary and Joseph were a-walking one day,
"Here is apples and cherries a-plenty to behold,
Here is apples and cherries a-plenty to behold."
3. 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."
4. Joseph flew in anger, in anger he flew,
Saying, "Let the father of your baby gather cherries for you,"
Saying, "Let the father of your baby gather cherries for you."
5. The Lord spoke down from Heaven, these words he did say,
"Bow you low down, you cherry tree, while Mary gathers some,
Bow you low down, you cherry tree, while Mary gathers some."
6. The cherry tree bowed down, it was low on the ground
And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood around,
And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood around. [1]
7. Then Joseph took Mary all on his right knee,
"Pray tell me, little baby, when your birthday shall be,
Pray tell me, little baby, when your birthday shall be."
8. "On the fifth day of January my birthday shall be
When the stars and the elements shall tremble with fear,
When the stars and the elements shall tremble with fear."
9. Then Joseph took Mary all on his left knee,
Saying "Lord, have mercy upon me, for what have I done?"
Saying, "Lord, have mercy upon me, for what have I done?"
1. An observation from Jean Ritchie: ". . .while Joseph stood around," could refer to a command sometimes given to one's horse, to get him/her into position at the mounting block, or treestump, for a lady or child, for instance: "Here! Stand-around now! Stand-around!" The inference here would be that the unborn infant Jesus was giving God's command to bring Joseph to obedience. At least, being farmdwellers, we always just assumed that was what it meant, in the song.