THE RIDDLE SONG aka I GAVE MY LOVE A CHERRY
(Traditional Appalachian version)


I gave my love a cherry
That had no stone
I gave my love a chicken
That had no bone
I told my love a story
That had no end
I gave my love a baby
With no crying.

How can there be a cherry
That has no stone?
And how can there be a chicken
That has no bone?
And how can there be a story
That has no end?
And how can there be a baby
With no crying?

A cherry when it's blooming
It has no stone
A chicken when in the shell
It has no bone
The story of how I love you
It has no end
A baby when it's sleeping
It's no crying.


*****


THE RIDDLE SONG
Nana Mouskouri


I gave my love a cherry without any core
I gave my love a dwellin' without any door
I gave my love a palace wherein he might be
That he may lock it without any key

How can there be a cherry without any core?
How can there be a dwellin' without any door?
How can there be a palace wherein he might be
That he may lock it without any key?

My head is a cherry without any core
My mind is a dwellin' without any door
My heart is a palace wherein he might be
That he may lock it without any key



(Contributed by Andy & Mogg - January 2004)