Iris DeMent
"The Cherry Tree Carol (Aka As Joseph Was A-Walking)"

(traditional)
[Performed on "The Soul of Christmas" TV special]

Joseph was an old man and an old man was he,
and he has married Mary, the queen of Galilee,
and he has married Mary, the queen of Galilee

As Joseph and Mary walked in the garden green,
where the cherries hung heavy on every limb

"Pick me some cherries, Joseph,
pick me some cherries, do,
pick me some cherries, Joseph,
that grow on the bough"

But up spoke old Joseph with his words so unkind:
"Let the man gather the cherries that owneth the child"

Then up spoke our Saviour all in his mother's womb:
"Bow down, thou lofty cherry tree, that Mary may have some"
The very top branches bowed down to her feet
"Now you can see, Joseph, there are cherries for me"

As Joseph was walking he heard an angel sing
"This night shall be the birth time of Christ, the heavenly King

He neither shall be born in house nor in hall
nor in the place of paradise but in an ox's stall
He neither shall be clothed in purple nor in pall
but in the fair white linen that's used in babies all
He neither shall be rocked in silver nor in gold