The Cherry Tree Carol
José Feliciano Lyrics

When Joseph was an old man,
A long time had passed since Joseph was young

An old man was he,
Joseph was elderly

He married Virgin Mary
Joseph became the husband of Mary

The Queen of Galilee.
Mary was the queen of a region called Galilee

Joseph and Mary walked
Joseph and Mary took a leisurely stroll together

Through an orchard good,
They walked through a pleasant orchard

There were cherries, there were berries,
The orchard had cherries and berries

As red as any blood.
The fruits were very red

Then Mary spoke to Joseph
Mary turned to Joseph and spoke

So meek and so mild:
She spoke gently and humbly

"Joseph, gather me some cherries,
Mary asked Joseph to pick some cherries for her

For I am with child."
She explained that she was pregnant

Then Joseph grew in anger,
Joseph became angry

In anger grew he,
His anger intensified

"Let the father of thy baby
He demanded that the father of Mary's child

Gather cherries for thee!
Should gather cherries for her

Then Jesus spoke a few words,
Jesus, who was not yet born, spoke

A few words spoke he:
He said only a few words

"Let my mother have some cherries,
He asked the cherry tree to let Mary have some cherries

Bow low down, cherry tree."
He commanded the tree to bow down

The cherry tree bowed low down,
The tree obediently bent down

Bowed low down to the ground,
It bent all the way down to the earth

And Mary gathered cherries
Mary picked the fruit

While Joseph stood around.
While Joseph watched her

Then Joseph took Mary
Joseph comforted Mary

All on his right knee,
He knelt down beside her

"My Lord, what have I done?
He humbly asked for forgiveness

Have mercy on me."
He begged for God's mercy

Then Joseph took Mary
Joseph took care of Mary

All on his left knee,
He knelt down beside her again

"Pray tell me, little Baby,
He addressed Jesus

When thy birthday will it be?
He asked about the date of Jesus's birth

"On the Sixth day of January
Jesus responded with the date of his birth

My birthday it will be,
He clarified that January 6th was his birthday

And the stars in the elements
He predicted that the celestial objects would

Will tremble with glee."
React joyfully to his birth

As Joseph was a-walking
As Joseph walked

He heard an angel sing,
An angel appeared to him and sang

"Tonight shall be the birth time
The angel revealed the exact time of Jesus's birth

Of Christ our Heav'nly King."
He told of Jesus's divine kingship

"He neither shall be born
The angel described Jesus's birth circumstances

In house nor in hall,
He wouldn't be born in a building

Nor in the place of Paradise,
Not in a beautiful garden

But in an ox's stall."
But in a simple stable with livestock

"He neither shall be clothed
The angel specified what the infant would wear

In purple nor in cloth,
He wouldn't be dressed in fancy fabrics

But in the bare white linen
He would be swaddled in plain white cloth

That useth babies all."
The kind often used for infants

"He neither shall be rocked
The angel said how Jesus would be cared for

In silver nor in gold,
He wouldn't be rocked in a fancy item

But in a wooden manger
He would lie in a container made of wood

That rests upon the mold."
It would be placed on the ground

And Mary's child at midnight
Jesus was born at midnight

Was born to be our King.
He was destined to be the King of all

Then be ye glad ye people
The song concludes with a call to celebrate

This night of all the year,
On this special night

And light ye up your candles
Light candles to symbolize the joy of the birth

For his star it shineth clear.
It's a reference to the Star of Bethlehem that led the wise men to Jesus