When Joseph Was An Old Man

The Cherry Tree
or
When Joseph Was An Old Man

Words: Anonymous

From Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott, The New Oxford Book of Carols (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992), citing Hone, 1823, adapted.

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

2. When Joseph was married and Mary home had got,
Mary proved with child, by whom Joseph knew not.
Mary proved with child, by whom Joseph knew not.

3. Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard good,
Where was cherries and berries, so red as any blood.
Where was cherries and berries, so red as any blood.

4. Joseph and Mary walked throughj orchard green,
Where was berries and cherries, as thick as might be seen.
Where was berries and cherries, as thick as might be seen.

5. O then bespoke Mary, so meek and so mild:
'Pluck me a cherry, Joseph; they run so in my mind.'
'Pluck me a cherry, Joseph; they run so in my mind.'

6. O then bespoke Joseph, with words most reviled:
'Let him pluck the'he az cherry that brought thee with child.'
'Let him pluck the'he az cherry that brought thee with child.'

7. O then bespoke Jesus, all in his mother's womb
'Bow down, then, thou tallest tree, for my mother to have some!
'Bow down, then, thou tallest tree, for my mother to have some!

8. 'Go to the tree, Mary, and it shall bow to thee,
And the highest branch of all shall bow to Mary's knee.'
And the highest branch of all shall bow to Mary's knee.'

9. Then bowed down the tallest tree, it bent to Mary's hand;
Then she cried: 'See, Joseph, I have cherries at command.'
Then she cried: 'See, Joseph, I have cherries at command.'

10. O then bespoke Joseph: 'I have done Mary wrong.
But cheer up, my dearest, and do not be cast down!
But cheer up, my dearest, and do not be cast down!

11. 'O eat your cherries, Mary, O eat your cherries now!
O eat your chemes, Mary, that grow upon the bough!'
O eat your chemes, Mary, that grow upon the bough!'

12. Then Mary plucked a cherry, as red as any blood;
And she did travel onward, all with her heavy load.
And she did travel onward, all with her heavy load.

Sheet Music from Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (1916), Carol 563
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer

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