The Cherry-Tree Carol- Riley (NS) 1879 Collected c. 1943; published 1950; Creighton
[From Creighton; Folk Songs of Nova Scotia; 1950. Reprinted in Folk Songs of Canada; Fowke. This version of the Cherry Tree Carol is from from William Riley, of Cherry Brook, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. It was sung and recorded by folklorist Dr. Helen Creighton in 1943. To hear the first two stanzas: http://novascotia.ca/archives/virtual/creighton/exhibit.asp?ID=38
According to Fowke, Riley's ancestors were slaves in the US. I believe they escaped to Canada before the Civil War as William Riley was born in 1859 in Nova Scotia. He has several children listed on Ancestry.com, (he's pictured with Florence his daughter, nicknamed Rosie) and was married to Maggie.
Clearly this version predates Riley's birth in 1859 and is not from Canada but was taken there by his parents. I'm assigning a date of 1879 and assume Riley learned it by then.
The ballad begins with the second part first, which is rare.
R. Matteson 2014]
Cherry Tree Carol- From Creighton and Senior, 1950. Sung by William Riley, Cherry Brook, N.S. Noted by Nina Bartley Finn.
1. Then Joseph took Mary upon his right knee [1]
Saying, "Mary won't you tell me when the birth day shall be,"
Saying, "Mary won't you tell me when the birth day shall
2. "The birthday shall be on that old Christmas night
When the angels in the glory rejoice at the sight,
When the angels in the glory rejoice at the sight."
3. Oh Mary walked in the garden just like a little child,
Saying, "Give me some cherries for I am beguiled,"
Saying, "Give me some cherries for I am beguiled."
4. Joseph said to Mary, "I give thee no cherries,
Let the man give you cherries who did you beguile,
Let the man give you cherries who did you beguile."
5. Then the tree spoke unto her and it began to bow,[2]
Saying, "Mary gather cherries from the uttermost limb."
Saying, "Mary gather cherries from the uttermost limb."
---------
1. This is similar to Sharp D and E. The Appalachian versions are different than the English versions. In the Appalachian versions Joseph is putting Mary on his knee and is talking (although it's unclear) to baby Jesus in the womb. The standard English version appears:
When Mary took Jesus,
All on her right knee,
2. In another singing: The tree hearkened to him and it began to bow.