As Joseph Was a Walking (The Cherry Tree Carol)

Song Meaning

Annie Lennox's rendition of "As Joseph Was a Walking (The Cherry Tree Carol)" strips away the commercial gloss often draped over Christmas music, leaving a stark, almost unsettling meditation on humility and divine paradox. The song, a traditional English carol, presents a vision of the Nativity that pointedly contrasts earthly grandeur with spiritual significance. It isn't just about the circumstances of Jesus' birth, but a direct commentary on values. The angel's pronouncements aren't merely descriptive; they're a deliberate rejection of worldly opulence. The lyrics emphasize the King's birth in an ox's stall, his swaddling in simple linen, and his rocking in a wooden cradle. These aren't accidental details; they are core to the song's message. The angel's repeated negations – "He neither shall be born/In housen nor in hall," "He neither shall be clothed/In purple nor in pall" – create a powerful sense of inversion. What one might expect for a king is precisely what this King rejects. This challenges the listener to reconsider what truly holds value. The choice of "fair spring water" over wine for christening further reinforces this theme of purity and simplicity. It's a leveling – a deliberate choice to identify with the common and the natural rather than the artificial and the elevated. Lennox's arrangement likely amplifies the inherent austerity of the lyrics. By foregoing the bombastic arrangements often associated with Christmas music, she forces the listener to confront the raw, almost subversive message of the carol. The song's meaning, therefore, resides not just in its narrative but in its implicit critique of power and materialism. It's a reminder that true significance often lies in the humblest of circumstances, a stark contrast to the often-excessive celebration of the holiday season.