All under the leaves and the leaves of life
I met with virgins seven
And one of them was Mary mild
Our Lord's first mother in heaven
Oh what are you seeking you seven pretty maids
All under the leaves of life?
We are seeking for no leaves, Thomas
But for a friend of thine
Go down, go down into yonder town
And sit in the gallery
And there you'll see sweet Jesus Christ
Nailed to a big yew tree
So down they went into yonder town
As fast as foot could fall
And many a bitter and a grevious tear
From the virgin's eyes did fall
Oh peace, Mother, oh peace, Mother
Your weeping does me grieve
But I will suffer this, he said
For Adam and for Eve
Oh how can I my weeping leave
My sorrows undergo
While I do see my own son die
And sons I have no more?
He laid his head on his right shoulder
And death has struck him nigh
The Holy Ghost be with your soul
Sweet Mother, now I die
Oh the rose, the gentle rose
The fennel it grows so strong
And then good Lord your charity
Is the ending of my song
This spring ballad carol tells a story based on the Apocrypal Gospels.
It is about 150 years old.