Collins, Judy - Cherry Tree Carol Lyrics

Always a brave singer...puts that delicate voice right out-front.

Lyrics
When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
And one day as they went walking, all in the garden green
There were berries and cherries as thick as may be seen
There were berries and cherries as thick as may be seen
Then Mary said to Joseph, so meek and so mild
"Joseph, gather me some cherries for I am with child"
"Joseph, gather me some cherries for I am with child"
The Joseph flew in anger, in anger flew he
"Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee
Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee"
Then up spoke baby Jesus, from out Mary's womb
"Bow down ye tallest tree that my mother might have some
Bow down ye tallest tree that my mother might have some"
So bent down the tallest tree to touch Mary's hand
Said she, "Oh look now Joseph, I have cherries at command"
Said she, "Oh look now Joseph, I have cherries at command"
When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
Songwriters: MARY ALLIN TRAVERS, NOEL PAUL STOOKEY, PETER YARROW, ROBERT R. DE CORMIER JR., ROBERT R. DE CORMIER

Actually, Joseph DID have contact with an angel,. more than once. Here's one exam[e. When he discovered that Mary was pregnant, here is the scripture from the Book of Matthew, 1,18-21: " Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband , being a just man, and not willing to make a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins."

Thanks so much for pointing this out,Max. Merry Christmas.

So much tranquility...♥️

https://youtu.be/L4LmIT6HbIo

Ms Collins Bless you for all the Ages of your voice 1968 I saw you at Carnegie Hall I was 17 and just love you then and forever. Love and Peace N Y City

I'll NEVER forget this WONDERFUL special... SPECTACULAR! and... OF course she sand "both sides now" on it!

SO many folks pass over these GREAT folks tunes like this one when picking Christmas Tunes... Thank goodness Judy Collins... these tunes don't get past Miss Collins!

Does the sheet music to this arrangement exist somewhere?

The comments below have been "imported" from the "Angels in the Snow" video. Yes that WAS me, commenting 4 years ago..... Merry Christmas!

You don't read your Bible Judy! The angel Gabriel WAS sent to Joseph to tell him what was going on!

This song was performed years ago by Peter, Paul & Mary, a 1960's folk group. Peter Yarrow, Paul Stuckey, and Mary Travers may be to blame, not Judy. Merry Christmas!

Maybe anyone has the text from her great version?

What a pity she didn't read the text properly! Joseph was spoken to by an angel, and it was all explained to him! (See Matthew 1: 20-25.) Otherwise beautiful...

Judy Collins didn't write the lyrics; it's an old Appalachian folk carol.

I was actually referring to her opening comments, not to the song, (though I take your point that she may actually have been referring to the song in them, rather than to the original story.)
The song, by the way, is, I think, originally English (15thc?)

A beautiful song by a beautiful artist.

Judy at her best

her voice squeezes my soul amd tears came out.

simply amazing.

All these arguments about scripture and interpretations. The lyrics vary, So far as I know, this carol doesn't purport to be a theological dissertation. Why make it a debate? It's a lovely and heartfelt performance whether or not you Biblical scholars believe it's accurate.

+Ole Larsen When I was a confirmand the priest hated unautorised stories. there was a story about when Jesus was a kid and made clay birds, and the priest hated it. And then the priest asked me : What is the 6´th comentment? it in something about sex, he said. and then I said: Love your neighbour(I was in 1971) and then he went angry! But then he had a story about his church was 13 meters higher than another church 10 km. away. but it is realy just 2 meters. What a stupid priest. I got confirmated and got 84 pounds in danish money, not very much.

Ole Larsen I know the story of the clay birds too ( I’m Australian), but I can’t remember why or how I know it.

@Ole Larsen The story you are referring to is from "The Gospel of Thomas" a non-canonical text, which is probably why the priest rejected it as a source.

@Gin Weston The story you are referring to is from "The Gospel of Thomas" a non-canonical text, which is probably why the priest rejected it as a source.

The inspiration for the Cherry TreeCarol is an Apocryphal story from the Gospel of Pseudo Matthew chp. 20:1-3 (Erhman translation)

songs was nice sounds

actually an angel DID come and talk to Joseph, "fear not" and everything - equal opportunity angles :). I love the sound of this carol, but some versions of it don't present Joseph in the best of lights - Joseph in fact was an awesome guy, an extraordinary man for his cultural context.

Also, the first verse really shouldn't start out as depicting Mary and Joseph married already. She first told Joseph she was pregnant, then he didn't want to wed her, then yes, as you said, and angel came in a dream, to explain to Joseph. Then they got married. So the story line is a little skewed.

hey, here's an idea shut up and enjoy the song.

The best performance I've ever heard!

Yes, it is a magical rendition, I love it's lilting tempo and of course, Judy's voice.  Cindy Kallet also does a beautiful version.  

Lovely;   beautiful voice.

I never tire of hearing this beautiful song performed by Judy Collins.

Joseph holds the unique distinction of being STEPfather to the Son of God. BTW an angel was dispatched to tell Joseph that it was good to marry Mary, that her baby was from the Holy Spirit, then later to flee to Egypt, then again when it was safe to return home. Joseph was God's man for the ultimate mission.

@Bob Collins I think Judy Collins version  made it so much more real and human from the perspective of Joseph.  The Biblical story does not tell us about Joseph's feelings as a human being. We can only guess that he had universal human emotions. Angel interaction is pretty atypical and like many who have spiritual experiences that are extraordinary.....there is always the "is this happening, did it happen, is there something wrong with me, am I imagining it." Sometimes it take a bit more than an Angel in a dream or a vision to convince the human heart....and requires the direct hand of God...and to me...that is what this carol is about.

baritonebynight the heart believes, it’s the head that is not so sure..

first of all she called it "the story"...so its not a matter of humanist revisionism...she like most liberals just doesn't know her Bible...but yes the Bible says at first Joseph was coflicted Matt 1:19; ProtoEvangelium of James 13:1-2 (Ehrman Trans) & Gospel of Pseudo Matthew 10:1-2 (Ehrman Trans)

So beautiful Judy Thanks

The words are unfair to Joseph though, who was cherry-picked by The Father to be the Protector of the Family of our Savior! If he had not listened to the angel who told him to flee to Egypt, all would have been lost! The fate of mankind hinged on the decision of wonderful Joseph! We owe him one, same as Mary & of course Yahushua, King of Kings & Lord of Lords! (:D Have a great ChristmasEveryDay, Everybuddy!!!

Very good point. Pretty song, just not accurate. Sort of like Frosty the Snowman. 😉 🎅

Lovely ...

Great voice, but the tempo is too fast for me. I prefer Jody Miller's version.

+Right Arm Productions Y'all need to listen to this song by The Chad Mitchell Trio.

lovely rendition.

What do you mean "No angel comes to Joseph"?  An angel does appear to Joseph and reassure him that what Mary says is true.  Matt 1:20

Perhaps she meant initially? As in, before Joseph thought to put Mary away. Yet how is it you accuse another of removing from Scripture when you yourself have added? For though Scripture says Mary kept all these things in her heart in regards to certain matters, where does it state that Mary spoke a word of her blessing to Joseph or any other?

Correct. However, it depends on which Gospel one reads; two of them don't even acknowledge the Virgin Birth or the Christmas Story at all..

Mark and John don't mention it ( the Virgin Birth) but the following New Testament Apocryphal Books do The ProtoEvangelieum of James; the history of Joseph the Carpenter & the Gospel of Pseudo Matthew ...which is where the Cherry Tree Carol gets inspiration from...Chapter 20:1-2 (Ehrman translation)

fetus?  C'mon.

Fetus Jesus is the reason for the (Advent) season.

Yes, that's the song. You can hear a snippet of it on the Amazon listing for the Christmas album. You can also buy the MP3 of the entire song on Amazon. The song is written by Eric Andersen, Jonas Fjeld and Ole Paus. Jonas sings backup with Judy on the chorus of the recording.

"Angels in the Snow"?....Is that the Eric Andersen song that he wrote and performed worldwide with Rick Danko and Jonas Fjeld? If so it's a wonderful song with verses in Norwegian and English. Ms Collins has had a decades-long friendship with Eric and has performed "covers" of much of his work. THANK YOU for this post, glad I subscribed!

This song will be featured on Judy Collins' upcoming "Christmas with Judy Collins" CD, to be released October 22, 2013. It is a compilation of her previous Christmas CDs, with the addition of a wonderful, upbeat, new single called "Angels in the Snow." You can buy the single now on iTunes and Amazon, and view the cool cover of the new CD now on Amazon.com

This is absolutely magical.