English Folk-Carols/The Cherry Tree (2)

For other versions of this work, see The Cherry-Tree Carol.

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English Folk-Carols (1911)
by Cecil James Sharp

The Cherry Tree (second version) by Anonymous

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This version of "The Cherry-Tree Carol" was sung by Mrs. Plumb, at Armscote, Worcestershire. For more information, see Notes on the Songs at the end of this volume.

3416997English Folk-Carols — The Cherry Tree (second version)1911anon

IV.⁠THE CHERRY TREE.

SECOND VERSION.

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THE CHERRY TREE.

second version.

1⁠Joseph was an old man,
And old man was he ;
He married with Mary,
The Queen of Glory.

2⁠Joseph took Mary
In the orchard wood,
Where there were apples, plums, cherries,
As red as any blood.

3⁠Then bespoke Mary,
So meek and so mild:
Get me some cherries
For my body's bound with child.

4⁠Joseph he's taken
These words so unkind:
Let them get you cherries, Mary,
That did your body bind.

5⁠Then bespoke Jesus,
All in His mother's womb:
Go to the tree, Mary,
And it shall bow down;

6⁠The highest bough of the cherry tree
Shall bow down to Mary's knee,
And she shall have cherries
For her young Son and she.

7⁠Mary got cherries
By one, two and three;
Mary got cherries
For her young Son and she.