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.
* In the place of “ I told my love a story” some versions sing “I gave my love a ring” and in the last verse sing “…a ring when it’s rolling it has no end…”
** This line may also be sung as "A chicken when it's pipping" which means the same thing.
Learn the Melody
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Lyrics begin 45 seconds in if you want to skip ahead.
Background
This is a traditional American lullaby which is thought to have originated in the Appalachian region.
