The Cherry Tree Carol- Skeens (KY) 1937 Recording
[From: Library of Congress AFS L57: Child Ballads Traditional in the United States; Recorded by Alan Lomax and Elizabeth Lomax. This was also recorded by Alan Lomax and Elizabeth Lyttleton on 10-04-37 featuring Lee Skeens, her husband, on fiddle- I assume he sang it as well.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL (Child No. 54)
B3 [(a) Sung by Mrs. Lee Skeens at Wooten, Kentucky, 1937. Recorded by Alan Lomax- and Elizabeth Lomax. The popular idea of Joseph's jealousy is very ancient and is found in the gospel of Pseudo-Matthew in early Christian times. Although the English carol has not been recorded before the eighteenth century, it is not likely to have been invented as such at so late a date; we may reasonably suppose medieval antecedents. It has at any rate been much beloved in recent times and is the best known, probably, of traditional carols --a distinction to which its tender charm well entitles it. The tunes, wherever known, seem all to be members of a single class.
1. Joseph was a young man and a young man was he
And he courted Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee.
2. Mary and Joseph was a-walking one day Joseph spoke to Mary,
There's ampl' o' cherry, cherries enough to behold.
3. Mary spoke to Joseph so meek and so mild
Pray gather me cherries, Joseph, for I am with child.
4. Joseph flew in angry, in angry he flew
Joseph flew in angry, in angry he flew
Let the father of your baby gather-cherries for you.
5. Jesus cried and he spoke and these words he did say
Bow you low down, cherry tree: Let your mother have some.
6. The cherry tree bent way low down, low down to the ground
And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood around.
7. Joseph took Mary all on his right knee
Cries, Oh Lord have mercy, what haven I a-done.
8. Joseph took Mary all on his left knee
Pray tell me, Little Baby, when your birthday shall be?
9. On the fifth day of January my birthday shall be
When the stars are all in the elements they done tremble with fear.