Lazarus and Diverus- Taylor 1921 Sharp
From: Sacred Songs and Carols
by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Lucy E. Broadwood, A. G. Gilchrist, Cecil J. Sharp
Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 8, No. 31 (Sep., 1927), pp. 29-34
27. - LAZARUS AND DIVERUS
Noted by CECIL J. SHARP. SUNG BY MR. THOMAS TAYLOR, AT THE WORKHOUSE,
[MIXOLYDIAN.] Ross, HEREFORDSHIRE. SEPT. 7th, 1921.
As it fell out up - on one day,
Rich Di -ver- us made a feast,
And he in - vi - ted all his men,
And gen tle-men of the best.
The rest of the words do not differ from printed versions; see Journal, Vol. ii, p. I25, and Vol. iv, p. 16. - R. V. W.
This is a favourite subject for folk-carols on the Continent. See an interesting example, tune and text: "Der Reiche Schlemmer," in Zuccalmaglio's Deutsche Volkslieder (1840). In this German version a voice from heaven bids Lazarus to
arise and go to beg of the rich man. Eventually three doves accompany the dead Lazarus to heaven, and three ravens accompany Dives to hell. See Child's British Ballads and Folk Songs of French Canada (Barbeau and Sapir, 1925) for references to foreign sources. - L. E. B.
See Mr. Sharp's English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, No. 84, for a Lazarus ballad in a different metre, and to a quite different tune.- A. G. G.