Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

A little over 220 years ago this poem was found in the collection of a man named Joshua Smith of New Hampshire. It appears to be a meditation on Song of Solomon 2:3-5, where the Bride is speaking:

"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,
so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under
his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was
sweet to my taste.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and
his banner over me was love.

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples:
for I am sick of love."

Somehow this song has become associated with Christmas, though it does not have any Christmas themed sections. If you have never heard it before there is a gentleman who offers a free mp3 of the song.

       Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
               (Key of C)

        C                  G         C
1. The  tree of life my    soul hath seen,
2. His  beauty doth all    things  excel:
3. For  happiness I        long have sought,
4. I'm  weary with my      former    toil,
5. This fruit doth make my soul to   thrive,


        G          C         G    (C)    G
1.      Laden with fruit and alw-  ays   green:
2. By   faith I    know, but ne'er can   tell
3. And  pleasure   dearly    have  I     bought:
4. Here I will     sit and   rest  a-    while:
5. It keeps my     dying     faith a-    live;

        Em                 F         G
1. The  tree of life my    soul hath seen,
2. His  beauty doth all    things  excel:
3. For  happiness I        long have sought,
4. I'm  weary with my      former    toil,
5. This fruit doth make my soul to   thrive,


        C         (F)        F         G/D
1.      Laden with fruit and always    green:
2. By   faith I    know, but ne'er can tell
3. And  pleasure   dearly    have I    bought:
4. Here I will     sit and   rest    a-while:
5. It   keeps my   dying     faith   a-live;


         C           (C9)      G         Dm
1.       The trees of nature   fruitless be
2. The   glory        which I  now can   see
3. I     missed of    all; but now I     see
4. Un-   der the      shadow   I will    be,
5. Which makes my     soul in  haste to  be


   (g)   C         (F)         Dm7   G
1.  Com- pared with Christ the apple tree.
2.  In   Jesus      Christ the apple tree.
3. 'tis  found in   Christ the apple tree
4.  Of   Jesus      Christ the apple tree.
5.  With Jesus      Christ the apple tree.


Notes, Guitar Chords and Voicings:
g : xxxxx3
C9: x32033
F : xx3211
(): optional chord/note

I think this voicing for the C9 chord really brings
out the unique sound of the 5th line.