p. 9
First Line:
When Joseph was an old man an old man was he
Artist & Tune
Version by Joan Baez
Performed by:
Version by Judy Collins
Performed by:
Version by Nowell Sing We Clear
Performed by:
Version by Martin Simpson
Performed by:
Version by Peter Paul and Mary
Performed by:
Version by Saro Lynch
Performed by:
About the Song
This traditional ballad is Child Ballad #54. It is reported to have been sung in the early 15th century. Many variants have been collected both in the British Isles & Appalachia.
It draws on folk tales about Joseph's reaction to his betrothed conceiving a child before their marriage was consummated. It has been suggested that there may be a relationship with a story found in the apocryphal Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, composed in the mid-7th century.
The final video below features North Carolina singer songwriter Saro Lynch discussing the meaning of the song.