Cherry Tree Carol- Creech (KY) 1939 Thomas C
[From Ballad Makin' by Thomas, 1939. This is one of three versions from this book. It's not clear whether Creech sang additional stanzas but this is the text of "When Jospeh Went A-Walking" without the first and ending stanzas.
R. Matteson 2014]
Cherry Tree Carol- Sung by John Buckingham Creech, Carter County, Kentucky before 1939.
He neither shall be born
In house nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox-stall.
He shall not be clothed
In purple nor pall;
But all in fair linen
As wear babies all.
He shall not be rocked
In silver nor gold,
But in a wooden cradle
That rocks on the mold.
He neither shall be christened
In milk nor in wine;
But in pure spring-well water,
fresh sprung from Bethine.