Songs:The Cherry Tree Carol (83452)

From WWR

Contents 1 Trivia, story behind the song, etc. 2 Lyrics 3 Listener comments about The Cherry Tree Carol (83452) 4 Tags

Trivia, story behind the song, etc.

I first heard Peter, Paul and Mary’s interpretation of this song as a child. A friend asked me to consider recording it for this project, and in researching it I became fascinated by the song’s rich history in folklore. The earliest versions that I could find date back to 16th century, and as with the best folk songs, adaptations are numerous. I have pulled together the following lyric from both Appalachian and European sources, and have made a few changes here and there. I love how this song explores timeless themes of faithfulness and infidelity, sexuality and childbirth, the protective instinct that children show for their mothers, and the fears women have always had for their unborn children. It’s always thrilling to find a song so old that still rings true. My favorite verse is the one where Mary ignores Joseph’s accusations and instead seems to tease him by flaunting her newfound powers as a pregnant woman: ‘Oh look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command.” [1]

Lyrics

Joseph was a good man, a good man was he
And he loved sweet Mary, The Queen of Galilee (2x)
And one day they were walking in the garden so green
And there were apples and cherries as ripe as can be seen (2x)
And Mary said to Joseph, so meek and so mild,
"Joseph, gather me cherries for I am with child." (2x)
And Joseph flew in anger, in anger flew he,
"Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee." (2x)
Then up spoke the baby from within his mother’s womb
Bow down ye cherry tree, and let my mother have some." (2x)
Down came the branches till they touched Mary's hand,
She said, "Oh, look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command." (2x)
Then Joseph took Mary all on his right knee,
Saying, “What have I done?  Lord, have mercy on me.” (2x)
Then Mary did speak to the babe in her womb:  
She said, “Tell me, my baby, how this world shall be.” (2x)  
 “O I shall be as dead, mother, as the stones in the wall
And the stones in the street, mother, shall mourn for me all.” (2x)
 “But on Easter-day, mother,  my rising shall be
And  the sun and the moon together shall both rise with me.” (2x)
Then Mary pluck’d a cherry  as red as any blood;  
And then she traveled onward with her heavy load. (2x)

Zig – guitar 

Listener comments about The Cherry Tree Carol (83452)

Tags

The information below this box is from the Whole Wheat Radio databases and cannot be changed by editing this page. You can add to or edit everything above this box by clicking the "edit" link in the row of tabs at the top of the page. To add music to the library see information for artists.

The Cherry Tree Carol by Diane Zeigler SONG
on the album December In Vermont Buy Diane Zeigler at CD-Baby December In Vermont	Request this song: The Cherry Tree Carol (Only logged in and authenticated users can make requests.) Overall rating: (22 votes) Your rating: You have to login to give your opinion about songs. Length: 4:02 Times played: 28 People hearing: 701 Times requested: 16 First played: Nov 29th, 2004 Last played: Jun 22nd, 2008 Previously played: May 22nd, 2008 Song ID#: 83452	Listener rankings: 5 stars=Jim ♦ Artmarcia ♦ Kelli ♦ jjascob ♦ Cater ♦ DogNut ♦ LuAnna ♦ 12-stringer ♦ Kazookid 4 stars=Chris200 ♦ JC ♦ sparx ♦ ReWoven ♦ Firewalk ♦ Atuuschaaw ♦ dolcefarniente ♦ Anagram ♦ E.D. Egg ♦ Kimchifox 3 stars=Mert 2 stars=Oldcajun 1 star=RickHap