Day 30: S.a.D The Cherry Tree Carol
This month, I’m sharing a Christmas song a day and although Christmas Day is now past, I’m finishing up the challenge I started. I hope you’ve enjoyed the forgotten carols that are important to remember that I’ve shared this week. I have one more from that category that caught my eye. This one, I didn’t know by song title or sound, so it’s brand new to my ears.
Cherry Tree Carol is an English/Scottish children’s tune from the early 15th century. The lyrical story tells Mary asking Joseph to pick cherries for her while traveling to Bethlehem who maliciously retorts “let the child’s father pick her cherries”. In most versions of the song this is where from the womb baby Jesus commands the tree to lower its branch for Mary and as you might’ve figured, Joseph seeing the miracle asked for forgiveness for his nasty words.
Listen now to Joan Baez sing The Cherry Tree Carol!
I found a lovely rendition of the song set in the Appalachian mountains with sisters, Kate and Maggie O’Connor, playing violins in the snow with beautiful harmonizing voices. It’s not the entire song but you may want to listen to my discovery, here. Poking around a little further I found a lovely instrumental version of the song by the Mark O’Connor Band and yes, the sisters are part of the group. I love this Appalachian style Christmas music!
Don’t worry about commenting. There’s no worries or fuss or strings attached, simply a moment for you to refresh your body and mind. 😉
I’ll be here with bells on tomorrow morning with another Christmas song to start your day. Allow yourself time to enjoy the last few days of the holidays without anymore fuss. Reflect on the beauty of the season with your favorite hot beverage and think about the wonderful things to come in the new year. X💋X💋, Cathy
8 Comments
messymimi's meanderings
That’s a very pretty songa
Brian
WOW, another one we’ve not heard in a while, we like Deana and that’s a nice too!
Mary McNeil
An exceptionally beautiful version of this carol is the one by Judy Collins
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5DSEeqnwjE
Eugi
Happy it’s almost the end of the year, Cathy! I’ve enjoyed your refreshing posts and your music selections this year. I look forward to a bright and shiny new year in 2022. 😘
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia,
The world be a changed place if people demonstrated the kind of generosity and love they show in December the rest of the year. I don’t know if it’s all fake or people just allow hate to take over once the holidays pass. It’s baffling. I’m with you, I’m looking forward to a bright and shiny new year, my friend!
Sandee
Lovely. This month and year is almost over. It’s been fun riding along with you all year long.
Have a fabulous day and rest of the week, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
You’re a darlin’! I’ve enjoyed the ride, as well, my friend.
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Thankful Thursday and S. a. D. Day 30, dear friend!
I enjoyed the beauty, purity and solemnity of this new-to-me carol by Joan Baez. I found the following info about the song on YouTube:
“All collected versions of this most popular of the traditional Christmas carols contain additional verses telling of the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Joan
s version, which uses only the cherry-tree narrative proper, has a feeling of completeness which leads one to guess that this may have been the carols original form. The cherry-tree verses derive from the apocryphal New Testament, while the the additional verses are based on the approved gospels and may have been added at a later date to make the carol theologically “sound.”Thank you very much for posting this rare and wonderful song, dear friend Cathy!