Cherry Tree Carol- Cooper (NL) 1975 Cox
[From Gordon Cox; Folk Music in a Newfoundland Outport; page 118; 1980. This is clearly from the same original source as the version from The Norman Cove Carols- Newhook Family. Read more below. Cf. Ern Newhook; c. 1938.
R. Matteson 2014]
History of Our Old Time English Carols
by Hubert James Newhook; Christmas 2008
In the year 1777, our progenitor, Charles Newhook, at the age of 25, moved with his wife Elizabeth, from their birthplace and residence in Tarrant, Gunville, Dorcet, England, to Trinity, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland.
The old-time carols, without a doubt, were brought by Charles and Elizabeth from Dorset England, where they had followed the practice of singing them every year, and this practice continued in Trinity, Newfoundland, and was carried on by the brothers down through the succeeding years.
Cherry Tree Carol- Sung by Mrs. C. Cooper of Dildo in 1975.
1. Joseph was an old man,
And righteous was he,
He married with Mary,
Maid of Galilee.
2. Now Joseph and Mary
Walked the garden so green
Where the cherries being ripened
Was most glory to be seen.
3. Then up speaks Mary
With her voice meek and mild,
"Go gather me cherries Joseph,
For I am with child."
4. And then replied Joseph
With a heart so unkind,
"Let them gather you cherries Mary
That have got you with child."
5. Then up spake the babe
From his mother's womb,
"Bow you down two lofty cherry trees,
Bow you down to me."
6. And this lofty cherry tree
He bend to her knee,
Where Mary picked cherries
By one two and three.
7. And this lofty cherry tree
He bend down so low,
Where Mary picked cherries
By the uppermost bough.
8. And this lofty cherry tree
He bend to the ground
Where Mary picked cherries,
The first in the town.
9. "Come tell me my babe
Come tell unto me,
Tell me my sweet babe
When your birthday shall be."
10. "Christmas in the morning
My birthday shall be,
Stones in the street, mother
Will shed blood for me.