The Cherry-Tree Carol- Sullivan (Vermont) Learned c. 1860. Published 1933 Collected Flanders
[From BFSSNE, Volume 6, 1933. Notes by Flanders then Barry follow. Reprinted Flander's Ancient Ballads 1966. Also found in Country Songs of Vermont, 49, as learned, by Mrs. Ellen M. Sullivan of Springfield, Vermont, in a convent in Ireland about 1860. The version in Flanders Ancient Ballads is longer and will be given at the bottom of this page.
This version has the first two parts of the ballad and resembles Child B. This was likely taken from a chap book or print version at the convent.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE CHERRY-TREE CAROL.
(Child, 54)
Flanders; Smiley Manse, Springfield, Vermont: Mrs. Sullivan said that she was taught in the convent that Mary was a virgin; that Joseph came only at a time when she needed protection. "But he was at first jealous."
Barry: Davis C (Traditional Ballads of Virginia, p. 174), a fragment of one stanza without music, obtained in 1915 by Professor C. Alphonso Smith, is the first American record of The Cherry Tree Carol. In 1916, Miss Josephine McGill printed a Kentucky version (JAFL., XXIX, 293-4, text; 417, air). Of the versions since taken down in the South, the best are in English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians, collected by Cecil J. Sharp, edited by Maud Karpeles, London, 1932, vol. f, pp. 90-94. Traces of the ballad have been found in Maine (Barry, Eckstorm and Smyth , British Ballads from Maine, p. 446). Mrs. Sullivan's version is the first actual record of text and air from the North. It is evident that the ballad has been well preserved in Ireland: Mrs. Fred W. Morse of Islesford, Maine, heard it in Waterford; Davis A (op.cit., p. 128) was obtained from a native of County Clare, where it was sung by "knitters and spinsters." Another version, originally from County Monaghan, was recorded in 1929 by Miss Karpeles, in Regina, Saskatchewan (JFSS., VIII, 229-SO). Two fragments of the ballad were printed in Notes and, Queries, Boston Evening Transcript, February 19, 1910, and March 12, signed respectively "S. W. J." and "M. L. B." A unique feature of Mrs. Sullivan's version is the mention of the tree as bearing fruit and flowers at the same time. The detail of the tree bowing down is from the Ps. Mathean, Gospel (Child, ESPB., II, p. 1). Sozomenus 1c. 400; records a still earlier tradition current in Hermopolis, Egypt, that a great persea-tree made obeisance to the Christ-child Migne, Patrologia Graeca,LXVII, 1281). The story is clearly native to Egypt: in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2500 B. C.), the trees in the blessed otherworld make obeisance to the apotheosised king (K. Sethe, Diealten Pyranidenteate, 1019).
P. B.
Cherry Tree Carol- Fragment, sung by Mrs. E. M. Sullivan, Springfield, Vermont, as learned in a convent in Ireland, more than seventy years ago. Text and air transcribed from dictaphone; air recorded by Miss Elizabeth Flanders, February, 1933. Text printed by Mrs. Flanders in The Springfield, (Mass.) Sunday Union, February 26, 1933.
1 As Mary and Joseph was walking through a meadow so fair,
Where cherries and blossoms was to be seen there,
2 . Then out spoke blessed Mary, so keen and so mild,
"Pick me a cherry, Joseph, for I am with child."
3 Then out spoke St. Joseph, so keen and so mild,
"Let the father of your baby pick cherries for thee."
4 Then out spoke our Saviour, out of his mother's womb,
Saying, "Bend down, dear cherries, let my mama pick thee."
5 The highest branch bended, the lowest branch bowed,
Blessed Mary picked cherries, while her apron could hold.
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Cherry Tree Carol- Sung by Sullivan in May 1933 in Flanders Ancient Ballads, 1966.
St. Joseph was an old man, an old man was he,
When he met with Blessed Mary on the banks of Galilee.
When Joseph was married and Mary home had brought,
Mary proved with child, and Joseph knew it not.
As Mary and Joseph was walking through a meadow so fair
Where cherries and blossoms were to be seen there,
Then out spoke Blessed Mary, so soft [1] and so mild,
Saying, "Pick me a cherry, Joseph, for I am with child."
Then out spoke St. Joseph, so keen and so mild,
"Let the father of your baby pick cherries for thee."
Then out spoke our Saviour, out of His mother's womb,
Saying, "Bend down, dear cherries, let my Mama pick
thee." [2]
The highest branch bended, the lowest branch bowed.
Blessed Mary picked cherries while her apron could hold.
Our Saviour was not born in a palace or hall
But our Saviour was born in a low ax's[3] stall.
Our Saviour was not dressed in silk or satin so fine
But a piece of fine linen by his own Mama's side.
He neither shall be christened by white wine or red
But with clear spring water as we have been christened.
Then Mary took her baby and set him upon her knee;
''I pray thee now, dear child, tell me how this world it is to be."
'Oh, I shall be dead, mother, as the stones in the wall.
Oh, the stones in the street will mourn for me all.
"It will be on a Wednesday my vows shall be paid.
And 'twas on Good Friday, I was crucified.
'"On Sunday morning, great sight you will see,
The sun and moon dancing in honor of me."
1 Sung as "keen" in the BFSSNE rendition.
2 Sung as "some" in the BFSSNE rendition.
3. "ax's": "ox's"