Words: Traditional
Music: Traditional
Source: Richard R. Terry, Gilbert and Sandys' Christmas Carols (London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, Ltd., 1931)
2. Joseph and Mary walked
Through an orchard so good,
There was cherries and berries
So red as any blood.
3. O then bespoke Mary,
With words meek and kind,
'Pluck me one cherry Joseph
For they run in my mind.'
4. Go to the tree, Mary
And it shall bow to thee,
And the highest branch of all
Shall bow down to Mary's knee.
5. Go to the tree, Mary,
And it shall bow to thee,
And you shall gather cherries
By one, and two and three.
6. Then bowed down the highest tree
Unto Mary's hand'
Then she cried, 'See Joseph,
I have cherries at command.'
7. O eat your cherries Mary
O eat your cherries now,
O eat your cherries Mary,
That grow upon the bough.
9. He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But in the fair linen
That usen babies all.
He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden cradle
That rocketh on the mould.
10. He neither shall be cristen'd
In white wine nor in red,
But with the fair spring water
As we were christened.
As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing;
This night shall be born
Your heavenly King.
2. 'O I shall be dead mother
As the stones in the wall;
O the stones in the streets, mother,
Shall sorrow for Me all.
3. And O upon a Wednesday
My vow I will make,
And upon Good Friday
My death I well take;
4. On Easter Day My mother
My rising will be,
O the sun and the moon, mother,
They shall uprise with Me.
5. The people shall rejoice
And the birds they shall sing
To see the uprising
Of the heavenly King.'