In the late '60s and early '70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably "Diamonds & Rust," a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and "Sweet Sir Galahad," a song about sister Mimi Fariña's ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.
She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of "We Shall Overcome" at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream..." speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.
In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country's "Christmas Campaign," in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the "Queen of Folk" for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Over fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.
1959
The Cherry Tree Carol
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green
There were cherries and berries, as thick as might be seen
There were cherries and berries, as thick as might be seen
Joseph, gather me some cherries, for I am with child
Joseph, gather me some cherries, for I am with child
Then 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 in Mary's womb:
Bend down the tallest branches, that my mother might have some
Bend down the tallest branches, that my mother might have some
And bend down the tallest branches, it touched Mary's hand
Cried she: Oh look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command
Oh look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command
The Cherry Tree Carol is a traditional carol song that tells the story of the Virgin Mary and Joseph as they walked through an orchard. Joseph was an old man, and Mary was pregnant with baby Jesus. Mary asked Joseph to gather some cherries for her, but Joseph became angry and refused, telling her to ask the baby's father. In response, baby Jesus spoke from within Mary's womb and urged Joseph to bend down the tallest branches of the cherry tree so that Mary could reach the cherries herself. As Joseph did so, Mary was able to pluck some cherries from the tree and show them to him, proving that she carried the son of God.
The song has a number of interpretations and religious significances. Some see it as a window into Joseph's mistrust or doubt of Mary's purity, especially given the widespread belief in the Immaculate Conception. Whether it was the societal expectations and cultural norms of the time or the way Joseph perceived the world, the initial frustration, and anger coupled with Mary's request of him may suggest that he was, at least initially struggling with the idea that he had not fathered the son in Mary's womb. The carol depicts how, through the intervention of a miracle, Joseph was appeased and convinced of Mary's virtuosity, likely leading to the creation of the timeless nativity story as we know it.
Line by Line Meaning
When Joseph was an old man, an old man was he
Joseph was advanced in age when he lived
He married Virgin Mary, the Queen of Galilee
Joseph married the Virgin Mary, who was the queen of the region of Galilee
Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green
Joseph and Mary walked through a green orchard
There were cherries and berries, as thick as might be seen
There were an abundance of cherries and berries as far as the eye could see
Mary said to Joseph, so meek and so mild:
Mary spoke to Joseph with a gentle and submissive manner
Joseph, gather me some cherries, for I am with child
Mary requested Joseph to gather cherries for her as she was pregnant
Then Joseph flew in anger, in anger flew he
Joseph flew into a fit of anger
Let the father of the baby gather cherries for thee!
Joseph retorted that the father of the baby should gather cherries for Mary
Then up spoke baby Jesus, from in Mary's womb:
Baby Jesus spoke from inside Mary's womb
Bend down the tallest branches, that my mother might have some
Jesus requested that the branches be bent down for Mary's benefit
And bend down the tallest branches, it touched Mary's hand
The branches were bent down and touched Mary's hand
Cried she: Oh look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command
Mary exclaimed that she had cherries due to the command of Jesus
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joan Baez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
B A Blumenthal
I was 4 years old when this came out. My dad bought the album. I heard if off and on growing up. Her voice was amazing. Thanks Gary, for sharing this.
Ademar Santiago
Simply amazing song. Merry Christmas (adelantado) for all survivors of Covid19.
Peanut Andoil
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
Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green
There were cherries and berries, as thick as might be seen
There were cherries and berries, as thick as might be seen
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
Then 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 in Mary's womb:
Bend down the tallest branches, that my mother might have some
Bend down the tallest branches, that my mother might have some
And bend down the tallest branches, it touched Mary's hand
Cried she: Oh look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command
Oh look thou Joseph, I have cherries by command
ASMR TEZ NUBIAN QUEEN MUSIC AND MAKEUP RADIO SHOW
❤️
Danny Rodriguez
Peter, Paul, and Mary's version is beautiful and my favorite version.