Dives and Lazarus: The Folk Song that Everyone Loves
Contents
Dives and Lazarus is a folk song that everyone loves. It tells the story of two men – one rich and one poor – and how their lives intersect. The song is full of beautiful imagery and has a powerful message about compassion and love.
The History of the Song
It is impossible to tell the entire history of the folk song “Dives and Lazarus” in one sitting. The song has been around for centuries and has been adapted and changed countless times. What we do know is that the song is based on a biblical story, and that it was originally sung by workers in the fields.
The song’s origins
“Dives and Lazarus” is a popular folk song that has been around for centuries. The song is based on the story of the rich man and the beggar from the Bible, and it tells the story of how the two men ended up in different places after death.
The song was first collected in print in 18th century England, but it is thought to be much older than that. The earliest known version of the song was discovered in a 17th century hymnbook from Germany, and there are many other versions of the song that have been found all over Europe.
The popularity of “Dives and Lazarus” has continued into the modern era, and the song has been recorded by many different artists over the years. The most famous version of the song was recorded by Simon & Garfunkel on their 1968 album “Bookends.”
How the song has been adapted over time
Dives and Lazarus is a traditional English folk song that has been adapted and rearranged many times over the years. The original version of the song was probably written in the late 18th century, and it first appeared in print in 1794. The song tells the story of a rich man named Dives who goes to hell after he dies, and a poor man named Lazarus who goes to heaven. In the original version of the song, Dives is punished for his greed and Lazarus is rewarded for his piety.
Since its first publication, the song has been adapted by many different artists, including George slonem/stealing, Thomas Haynes Bayly, Samuel Pepys, and Vaughan Williams. The most famous adaptation of the song was written by John Drinkwater in 1918. This version of the song is often performed as a choral work, and it has been recorded by many different choirs over the years.
While the original version of Dives and Lazarus was probably intended to be a moral tale, many modern performers have chosen to focus on the humor of the story. In recent years, the song has been recorded by artists such as Tom Lehrer, R.E.M., and Steeleye Span. While these versions of the song are very different from the original, they all maintain the basic story line of two men who end up in different places after they die.
The Meaning of the Song
“Dives and Lazarus” is a folk song that has been around for centuries. The song is about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man goes to heaven and the poor man goes to hell. The song is a parable about the difference between the two afterlife destinations.
The lyrics of the song
The song is based on the story of Dives and Lazarus from the Bible. The story tells of a rich man who goes to hell when he dies and a poor man who goes to heaven. In the song, the rich man begs Lazarus to come back from heaven and tell his brothers not to end up like him.
The lyrics of the song are as follows:
Dives was a rich man and Lazarus was poor,
Lazarus lay at his gate full of sores,
Dives died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side,
Lazarus died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side.
Now Dives in torment lift up his eyes,
And see Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom arise,
And he cried, “Father Abraham have mercy on me,
And send Lazarus down to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue.”
But Abraham said “Son you have your good things here while you lived,
And Lazarus had his evil things but now he’s comforted there.
Besides all this a great gulf is fixed between us so that those who want go from here to there cannot cross over neither can those who are there come back again.”
Then Dives said “I beg you father that you would send him down
To my father’s house where I have five brothers
That he may testify unto them lest they come also into this place of torment.” But Abraham says “They have Moses and the prophets let them hear them.” And he said “No father Abraham but if one went from the dead they will repent.” And Abraham said “If they will not hear Moses or the prophets they will not be persuaded even if one rose from the dead.”
The symbolism in the song
Dives and Lazarus is a folk song that everyone loves. The meaning of the song is about two men, Dives and Lazarus, who are very different. Dives is rich and Lazarus is poor. The song is about how their lives turned out differently because of their different situations.
The symbolism in the song is that Dives represents the rich and powerful while Lazarus represents the poor and powerless. The story of their lives is a metaphor for how class division can lead to different outcomes in life. The rich man, Dives, ended up going to hell while the poor man, Lazarus, went to heaven. This symbolizes how the rich often end up in a bad place while the poor often end up in a good place.
The story in the song is ultimately about how we should treat others. It doesn’t matter if someone is rich or poor, we should all be treated equally. The song reminds us that we should help those who are less fortunate than us because they might not have the same opportunities as we do.
The Significance of the Song
“Dives and Lazarus” is a song that has been enjoyed by generations of people. The song is significant because it tells the story of two men who are very different from each other. One man is rich and the other man is poor. The song shows that even though the two men are different, they can still be friends.
Why the song is so popular
“Dives and Lazarus” is a popular English folk song that dates back to the early 18th century. The song tells the story of a rich man named Dives who goes to Hell after he dies, and a poor man named Lazarus who goes to Heaven. The song is thought to be based on a parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.
The popularity of “Dives and Lazarus” has been attributed to its catchy melody and simple, relatable lyrics. The song has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, and Bob Dylan. It has also been covered by popular contemporary artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Arcade Fire.
What the song says about human nature
Dives and Lazarus is a traditional English folk song that has been popular since the 18th century. The song tells the story of a rich man named Dives (pronounced “dee-viss”) and a poor man named Lazarus. Dives goes to hell when he dies, while Lazarus goes to heaven.
The song is significant because it says a lot about human nature. It shows that even though Dives was rich and had everything he wanted, he still ended up in hell because he did not help Lazarus when he was alive. This shows that money cannot buy happiness or salvation. The song also shows that it is better to be generous and kind than to be selfish and greedy.
