Joseph was an old man, and an old man was he
When he married virgin mary, the queen of galilee
As mary and joseph were walking one day
To an orchard of cherry trees they chanced for to stray
And mary said to joseph, so meek and so mild,
"Pick me some cherries, joseph, for I am with child.”

But joseph flew angry, so angry flew he,
"Let the father of your baby gather cherries for thee.”
When up spoke lord Jesus from in his mother's womb,
“Bow down low, cherry trees, bow down to the ground.”
And the cherry trees they bowed down, bowed low to the ground
And mary gathered cherries while joseph stood around

Then joseph took mary all upon his right knee,
“Come tell me, pretty baby, when your birthday shall be.”
“On the fifth day of january my birthday shall be
And the stars in the heaven shall all bow down to me.”