Joseph and Mary- Hill (GA-OK) pre1890 Moore A
[From Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, by the Moores; 1964. This is similar to the other Georgia version from G. A. Griffin which dates back in the 1800s.
The Moores notes follow:
R .Matteson 2014]
16 The Cherry-Tree Carol
The Cherry-Tree Carol (Child, No. 54) comes from an account recorded in the Pseudo-Matthew's Gospel, chap. xx. Reviewed by Child (II, 1), the story runs thus: "on the third day of the flight into Egypt, Mary, feeling the heat to be oppressive, tells Joseph that she will rest for a while under a palm-tree, and seeing it futl of fruit, asks for some. Joseph somewhat testily expresses his surprise that she should think of such a thing, considering the height of the tree: he is much more concerned to get a supply of water. Then Jesus, sitting on his mother's lap, bids the palm to bow down and refresh his mother with its fruit."
A. Joseph and Mary was sung by Mrs. Lizzie J. Hill, Tahlequah. Mrs. Hill was born in Georgia and came to Indian Territory in 1890. She learned her songs from "her Virginia-born father," who was a Methodist minister.
When Joseph was an old man,
An old man was he,
He married mild Mary,
Who lived in Galilee;
He married mild Mary,
Who lived in Galilee.
Joseph and mild Mary
Walking through the green,
Where there were peaches and cherries a-plenty,
Everywhere to be seen,
Where there were peaches and cherries a-plenty,
Everywhere to be seen.
Sweet Mary spoke to Joseph,
So meek and so kind,
"Joseph, pull me some sour cherries,
To see if I'm with child;
Joseph, pull me some sour cherries,
To see if I'm with child."
Joseph spoke to sweet Mary,
So rough and unkind,
"Let the father of the baby,
Pick cherries for thine;
Let the father of the baby,
Pick cherries for thine."
The Lord spoke to Joseph,
All in his mother's womb,
"Joseph, bow down them lofty cherry trees,
Joseph, bow down them lofty cherry trees,
And let Mary pick some."
Joseph bent the cherries down low,
Low like a bow.
Mary picked some cherries,
Till her apron overflowed;
Mary picked some cherries,
Till her apron overflowed.
Joseph took sweet Mary,
All on his right knee,
Saying, "Tell me, sweet baby,
When your birthday will be,"
Saying, "Tell me, sweet baby,
When your birthday will be."
"All on one fair Friday,
While the stars shine clear.
Angels will watch around me,
In my manger bed;
Angels will watch around me,
In my manger bed."