F              Bb                 F
I GAVE MY LOVE A CHERRY THAT HAD NO STONE
   C7              F                  C7
I GAVE MY LOVE A CHICKEN THAT HAD NO BONE
                  F                C7
I TOLD MY LOVE A STORY THAT HAD NO END
   Bb                             F
I GAVE MY LOVE A BABY WITH NO CRYING

How can there be a cherry that has no stone?
How can there be a chicken that has no bone?
How can there be a baby with no cry-in?
How can there be a story that has no end?

A cherry, when it's blooming, it has no stone,
A chicken when it's pipping, it has no bone,
A baby when it's sleeping, has no cry-in.
The story that I love you, it has no end,
--------
Traditional
This version is from the Kentucky mountains.  An earlier version
was discovered in a 15th century manuscript.