The Cherry Tree Carol 10 Lyrics

I

1. Joseph was an old man,
And an old man was he,
When he wedded Mary
In the land of Galilee.

2. Joseph and Mary walked
Through an orchard good,
Where was cherries and berries
So red as any blood.

3. Joseph and Mary walked
Through an orchard green,
Where was berries and cherries
As thick as might be seen.

4. O then bespoke Mary,
So meek and so mild,
"Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
For I am with child."

5. O then bespoke Joseph,
With words most unkind,
"Let him pluck thee a cherry
That brought thee with child."

6. O then bespoke the Babe
Within His mother's womb ―
"Bow down then the tallest tree
For my mother to have some."

7. Then bowed down the highest tree,
Unto His mother's hand.
Then she cried, "See Joseph,
I have cherries at command."

8. O then bespake Joseph ―
"I have done Mary wrong;
But cheer up, my dearest,
And be no cast down.

9. "O eat your cherries, Mary,
O eat your cherries now,
O eat your cherries, Mary,
That grow upon the bough."

10. Then Mary plucked a cherry,
As red as the blood;
Then Mary went home
With her heavy load.

II

11. As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing:
"This night shall be born
Our heavenly King;

12. "He neither shall be born
In housen or in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox's stall.

13. "He neither shall be clothed
In purple or in pall,
But all in fair linen
As were babies all.

14. "He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden cradle
That rocks on the mould.

15. "He neither shall be christened
In white wine nor red,
But with fair spring water
With which were christened."

III

16. Then Mary took her young Son,
And set Him on her knee:
"I pray Thee now, dear Child,
Tell how this world shall be."

17. "O I shall be as dead, mother,
As the stones in the wall;
O the stones in the streets, mother,
Shall mourn for me all.

18. "Upon Easter-day, mother,
My uprising shall be;
O the sun and the moon, mother,
Shall both rise with me."