The Cherry Tree Carol 7 Lyrics

Joseph and Mary or Joseph Was An Old Man

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,
With words so meek and mild,
'Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
For I am with child.'

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

6. O then bespoke the baby
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 bespoke Joseph -
'I have done Mary wrong;
But now cheer up, my dearest,
And do not be 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 any blood;
Then Mary she went homewards
All with her heavy load.

Joseph and the Angel or As Joseph Was A Walking

11. As Joseph was a-walking,
He heard an angel sing:
'This night there shall be bom
On earth our heavenly King.

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

13. 'He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But all in the fair white linen,
As wear the babies all.

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

15. 'He neither shall be christened
In white wine nor red,
But with fair spring water
As we were christened.'

Mary's Question or Then Mary Took Her Young Son

16. Then Mary took her young son,
And set him on her knee;
Saying, 'My dear son, tell me,
Tell me how this world shall be.'

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

18. 'On Easter-day dear mother,
My rising up shall be;
O the sun and the moon, mother,
Shall both arise with me.'