I Gave My Love a Cherry
Josh White Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I gave my love a cherry
That had no stone
I gave my love a chicken
That had no bone
I told my love a story
That had no end
I gave my love a baby
With no crying.

How can there be a cherry
That has no stone?
And how can there be a chicken
That has no bone?
And how can there be a story
That has no end?
And how can there be a baby
With no crying?

A cherry when it's blooming
It has no stone
A chicken when in the shell
It has no bone
The story of how I love you
It has no end




A baby when it's sleeping
It's no crying.

Overall Meaning

The song "I Gave My Love a Cherry" is a Southern American folk song that dates back to the 18th century. Josh White's version of the song is one of the most popular, and it's an excellent example of how a simple folk song can carry multiple meanings.


At first glance, the lyrics seem nonsensical - how can you give someone a cherry with no stone or a chicken with no bone? However, the song's meaning becomes clear when you understand that these are all metaphorical representations of love. The cherry represents a heart without bitterness or anger, while the boneless chicken symbolizes a love that is free of strife and conflict.


The story with no end is a reference to the eternal nature of love, which transcends time and space. It's a reminder that true love never fades away, but only grows stronger with each passing day. Giving a baby that never cries represents the desire for a love that is peaceful, content, and without tears.


Interestingly, many people believe that the "I Gave My Love a Cherry" lyrics are based on a traditional English lullaby called "The Three Ravens." This song features a similar melody and lyrics about a dead knight and his loyal hounds.


Line by Line Meaning

I gave my love a cherry
I offered a gift of love to the person I adore


That had no stone
The cherry was unripe and thus had not formed a stone


I gave my love a chicken
Another present I bestowed on my beloved


That had no bone
The chicken was tender and boneless, a delicacy for my sweetheart


I told my love a story
I narrated a tale to entertain and captivate my true love


That had no end
The story was so enchanting and fascinating that it seemed never-ending


I gave my love a baby
I gave the precious gift of a child to my beloved


With no crying
The baby was peaceful and content, without any tears or fussiness




Lyrics © RAOUL BRETON EDITIONS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONNIE HAWKINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@RedneckBarStoriesRonVincent

His son inherited his father’s amazing voice.

@ramiz856

This was the first ever song that David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) learned at the age of 16

@julio95

Really??

@nmol9733

Awesome trivia.

@manan_1011

Wider horizon !!

@dominicmoisant8393

@júlio zanata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ueFxgO5sY

@icydelon

that's why im here

@Babagula89

Love it!

@garyhewitt4344

Best version ever.

@koleberdinoch926

Josh White went on to become a comedian in the 1970s

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