Dives and Lazarus- Higgins (KY) 1934 Niles
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles; 1961. Niles, of course, had Sharp's EFFSA and Davis TBVa as well as Child's collection. His ballad recreation is based on the US versions.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
DIVES AND LAZARUS- from the singing of Lottie Higgins; Harlan, KY; 1934. Collected by John Jacob Niles.
There lived a man in ancient times,
The bible doth inform us,
His sins agin the word of God,
Were great and they were num'rous,
Were great and they were num'rous.
The rich man fared very well,
And dressed himself in linen,
He lived a life away from God,
And spent his time in sinnin',
And spent his time in sinnin'.
And it fell out upon a day,
Small rain from sky did fall
Rich Dives set a might feast,
Before his neighbors all,
Before his neighbors all.
Poor Lazarus at the rich man's gate,
To raise his hands unable,
He waited in humility,
For crumbs from Dives' table,
For crumbs from Dives' table.
Rich Dives set his hungry dogs,
That they would set upon him,
The dogs in pity licked his sores,
And thus they did befriend him,
And thus they did befriend him.
"Begone, begone," rich Dives cried,
"Thou art no friend no brother,
I will no give thee food nor drink,
In the name of Christ, the Savior,
In the name of Christ, the Savior."
And it fell upon a day,
Poor Lazarus sicked and died,
And from God's heaven angels came,
His soul to heavenward guide,
His soul to heavenward guide.
Rich Dives died upon a day,
But see his dreadful station,
From Heaven Lazarus viewed down,
Saw Dives in damnation,
Saw Dives in damnation.
Rich man Dives cried, "In heaven's name,
Send Lazarus with cold water,
My thirst is great my pain is sore,
With Hell's tormenting tortures,
With Hell's tormenting tortures."
"Oh had I yet and hour again,
On earth among the living,
I'd spend my time in prayer and song,
And help the poor with giving,
And help the poor with giving."