The Cherry-Tree Carol- Gentry (NC) 1916 Sharp B
[From English Folk Songs From The Southern Appalachians; collected by Cecil Sharp, Vol. 1; 1917 edition and the 1932 edition published London: Oxford University Press / Humphrey Milford, 1932, Maud Karpeles, ed.
Concerning the Cherry Tree Carol versions, the note on page 415 states: The references to the birthday do not appear in the English texts. It is of interest that the date is given in the texts B and C as 'the fifth day of January', which according to 'Old Style' reckoning was the date of Christmas Day between the years 1752 and 1799. In 1751, when a change in the calendar had become expedient, eleven days were dropped out between September 2nd and 14th, 1752, thus making January 4th the date of Old Christmas Day. In 1800, another day was taken from the calendar, and in 1900 still another, so that Old Christmas Day now falls on January 7th. In Miss McGill's version [Folk Songs of the Kentucky Mountains] the date is given as the 6th of January.
Sharp C was collected from William Wooten, the same informant as McGill's (see above). This version, Sharp B, was taken from Mrs. Jane Hicks Gentry in 1916 whose family history was documented (see: the Hick/Harmon version Lord Bateman) previously in my narrative and notes about other Hicks/Harmon family ballads. The Hicks family arrived on the shore of the James River in the mid-1600s and Samuel Hicks (b.1695) left Tuckahoe Creek (Goochland County, VA) and moved to Tabbs Creek, NC by 1765. His eldest living son, David, moved to Valle Crusis (Beech Mountain) with David's son, "Big Sammy" around 1770s and received a land grant there in 1779. It was "Big Sammy" and his son "Little Sammy" who Council Harmon lived with briefly after Counce's father was killed by a falling tree and his mother moved away with her new husband, a member of the Ward family. "Old Counce" was Jane Hicks Gentry's grandfather and he was one of the purveyors of balladry and "Jack tales." His repertoire remained with Jane and other family members for many generations. It's impossible to tell if this is a family ballad since it has not been reported by other family members.
This version has one of the prophecies of Jesus which I consider to be are the second part of the ballad. McCabe (1980) dates this and the Appalachian versions pre-1700 because of the reference to old Christmas (usually celebrated on January 6, even today!). The January 5th date is found in McGill's version taken from Wooten; in Sharp's version collected two years later from Wooten, he gives January 6th as the date.
R. Matteson 2012; 2014]
B. The Cherry-Tree Carol Sung by Jane Hicks Gentry (NC) 1916 Sharp B
1. Joseph were a young man,
A young man was he,
He courted Virgin Mary,
The Queen of Galilee.
2. Mary and Joseph
Were a-walking one day.
Here is apples and cherries
A-plenty to behold.
3. Mary spoke to Joseph
So meek and so mild:
Joseph, gather me some cherries,
For I am with child.
4. Joseph flew in angry,
In angry he flew,
Saying: Let the father of your baby
Gather cherries for you.
5. The Lord spoke down from Heaven,
These words he did say:
Bow you low down, you cherry tree,
While Mary gathers some.
6 The cherry tree bowed down,
It was low on the ground;
And Mary gathered cherries
While Joseph stood around.
7 Then Joseph took Mary
All on his right knee:
Pray tell me, little baby,
When your birthday shall be.
8 On the fifth day of January
My birthday shall be,
When the stars and the elements
Shall tremble with fear.
9 Then Joseph took Mary
All on his left knee,
Saying: Lord have mercy upon me
For what I have done.