The Cherry Tree Carol - Traditional

When Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he,
He courted Virgin Mary,
The Queen of Galilee.

As Joseph and Mary
Walked through an orchard good,
Where was cherries and berries
So red as any blood.

O then bespoke Mary,
With words both meek and mild:
'Pluck me one cherry, Joseph,
For I am with child.'

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

O then bespoke the Babe
Within His Mother's womb:
'Bow down then the tallest tree
For my Mother to have some.'

Then bowed down the tallest tree
From the top to the root,
And Mary gathered cherries
By handfuls in her boot.

Then Mary plucked cherries
By one, two, and three,
And she said, 'See, my Joseph,
The cherries for me.'

'O eat your cherries, Mary,
O eat your cherries now,
O eat your cherries, Mary,
That grows upon the bough.'

The Cherry Tree Carol lyrics are a fascinating survival of medieval mystery play traditions. The song depicts a moment where Mary asks Joseph for cherries and after his initial refusal the unborn Jesus commands the tree to bend its branches so Mary can eat. It concludes with a prophecy of the childs future. By singing these lyrics participants engage with a unique more humanized portrayal of the Holy Family blending folklore with the sacred narrative to emphasize the divine nature of the child Mary carries and the wonder surrounding His birth.