Joseph and Mary (Joseph Being an Aged Man, Joseph an Aged Man Truly)

DESCRIPTION: "Joseph being an aged man truly, He married a virgin fair and free," who is told by the Angel Gabriel that she will bear a child. When Joseph finds out, he asks what is going on. He learns the truth in a dream. Eventually Jesus is born.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1675 (Bodleian, 4o Rawl. 566(168))
KEYWORDS: carol Jesus religious age
FOUND IN: Britain(England)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Rickert-AncientEnglishChristmasCarols, pp. 5-27, "Joseph Being an Aged Man" (1 text)
Roud #2115
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, 4o Rawl. 566(168), "A most excellent ballad of Joseph the carpenter, and the sacred Virgin Mary" ("Joseph an aged man truely"), F. Coles/T. Vere/J. Wright (London), 1663-1674
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Cherry-Tree Carol" [Child 54]
NOTES [36 words]: This song is largely based on Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus, but the feeling is rather like the Cherry-Tree Carol, of which it might possibly be a forerunner; for background, see the note on that song. - RBW
Last updated in version 3.8
File: Rick025

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