“The most unusual carol of my food songs is also, perhaps, the oldest—this recounting of Genesis makes a strange argument: It’s good that Adam ate the Apple, because if he hadn’t, we never would’ve gotten to meet Jesus. And as for all that “fall of man” postlapsarian business? Who cares!”

Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter,
Thought he not too long.

And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took.
As clerkes finden,
Written in their book.

Ne had the apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Ne had never our ladie,
Abeen heav’ne queen.

Blessed be the time
That apple taken was,
Therefore we moun singen.
Deo gracias