Tune Req: Dives & Lazarus + Brigg Fair

Subject: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Bill
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 07:21 AM

Hello again, long time - no chat.

A year or more ago I was hunting for info on "The Unquiet Grave". I've found quite a bit since then, including nurerous tunes to the same words or variations on the words, and different usages of the tune I originally started with. I'm trying to expand my research but I still have a problem with some references that have been passed onto me.

I still can't find any actual words about Dives and Lazarus. Anybody know of any (with any tunes they might know to them).

Also I'm told that "Brigg Fair" and "Come all ye faithful Christians" are to the same or similar melody. Any words and tunes out there?

Incidently, I am aware of the "Star of the County Down" conection (thanks to LaMarca) of which I discovered I possess a 78rpm, but in a different time signature to that in DigiTrad's data base.

abc files are good. Midi files I can now read but not print out.

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Related threads:

Help: Dives and Lazarus - or vice versa
Variants of Dives and Lazarus

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 07:41 AM

Last time I was a duo, I used to do a version, "Diverus and Lazarus". I can't remember it, but I'll see if I can find my copy. It won't be until the weekend, though, so if anyone can beat me to it, please do.

Steve

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 07:53 AM

Hi Bill!

I included "Diverus and Lazarus" in my folk song collection, A Bonnie Bunch of Roses (Oak, 1983). See http://www.folklegacy.com/books.htm

All the best.

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 09:48 AM

G'day,
For words and tune click here. I found this by entering [#56] into the search box. I have several versions of this (Child, Sharp, Bronson).

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 10:49 AM

That's saved me a job! Almost word for word what we used to sing; except that ours had wicked old Diverus having to sit upon a serpent's knee. Which is not as daft as it sounds; my grandad always maintained that the serpent had legs (plenty of mediaeval corroboration) until the unfortunate business in the garden: "On thy belly shalt though go forth ...". It brings to mind the most preposterous image, however.

There's this version, too:

There was a rich man and he lived in Jerusalem,
Glory halleluiah, hi-ro-jerum.
He wore a top hat and his clothers were very spruce-ium.
Glory halleluiah, hi-ro-jerum.

Chorus:
Hi-r-jerum, oh hi-ro-jerum,
Skinnamalinka Doolium,
Skinnamalinka Doolium,
Glory Halleluiah, hi-ro-jerum.

Outside his house there lived a human wreckium,
He wore a bowler hat with the brim around his neckium.

The poor man died and went straight to Abraham's bosium,
Which was very nice for him but rather nuts for Abraham!

The rich man died, but he didn't fare so wellium,
For instead of Heaven, he went straight down to Hellium.

I have absolutely no idea where it comes from, as I learnt it from someone who never told me. There are one or two verses missing, I think - unless this is the Readers' Digest edition. Maybe someone can fill in the gaps.

Steve

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Bruce O.
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 11:20 AM

The Star of the County Down tune (Lazarus in Broadwood and Maitland's 'English County songs' and elsewhere), Gilderoy, and many others in the family, popped up on a different list about 1 - 2 weeks ago. Sine then I've seen Bronson's headnote to "Dives and Lazarus" (Child #56) where many songs using the tune are noted, but he says his list is by no means exhaustive. "Gilderoy" in a copy of c 1726, seems to the the oldest version. That's the copy of Gilderoy in the broadside ballads tunes on my website.

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Bruce O.
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 12:07 PM

Family members noted by Bronson in 'The Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads' at #56 are:

The Miller of the Dee, Gilderoy, The Three Ravens, Come all you worthy Christian men, Jack Pudding [Dancing Master], The [Nobleman and the] Thresher, Cold Blows the Wind [Child #78], We are poor frozen out Gardiners, By chance it was [Baring-Gould et al, Songs of the West], The Marigold [same], The Lowland of Holland [Sharp, 100], Erin's lovely Home [same], The ship in Distress [same], King Herod and the Cock [Child 55].

Add a number of carols, like:

The Twelve Apostles, The Moon shines Bright, God made a trance, The Seven Virgins and others from Southeastern U.S.

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 05:12 PM

A good biblical version of "Dives and Lazarus" is in the Cyberhymnal. The tune used (in the midi) was arranged by Ralph Vaughn Williams about 1920. Dives

Subject: ADD: Dives and Lazarus (Negro Folk Song)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 05:25 PM

The above was the English carol. The following is part of a Negro folk song, from Lomax and Lomax, American Ballads and Folk Songs, p. 583-584.

Lyr. Add: DIVES AND LAZARUS

Wi' his purple an' linen, too,
Ring dat big bell;
Don't keer what sort-a rags for you,
Ring dat big bell;
Dine sumptious ev'y day,
Ring dat big bell;
Tell Laz'us go away.

Chorus:
Ring-a dat big bell,
Dat bigges' big one!
Tell-a me whut he done done
Way down in Hell!

Laz'us lay outside,
Ring-a dat big bell;
Dogs lick his so' side,
Ring-a dat big bell;
But when he bof die,
Ring-a dat big bell,
Laz'us he even up-high.

Rich man I hears folks tell,
Ring-a dat big bell,
Dropped into lownes' hell,
Ring-a dat big bell;
Laz'us lay close an' fast,
Ring-a dat big bell,
In Ab'ham's breas' at last.

@religion @Negro @gospel

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 05:27 PM

The set at the Cyberhymnal was noted by Vaughan Williams from John Evans of Dilwyn in Herefordshire in 1907, though Mr. Evans sang Divus rather than Dives.  The text given appears to be a collation of Mr. Evans' (incomplete) version and verses from broadsides.

Subject: RE: Dives & Lazarus/Brigg fair etc
From: GUEST,Declan
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:35 AM

Some more verses for the version that Steve Parke's mentions above :

Oh the first thing that he called for was a bottle of Charteusium,
Glory hallelujah, hi-ro-jerum.
But old nick told him it wasn't a hotelium.
Glory hallelujah, hi-ro-jerum.

Oh the first thing that he called for was a whiskey and a sodium,
Glory hallelujah, hi-ro-jerum.
But old nick told him to shovel on the coalium.
Glory hallelujah, hi-ro-jerum.

The moral of the story is that riches are no jokium,
Glory hallelujah, hi-ro-jerum,
We'll all go to heaven 'cause we're all stony brokium;
Glory hallelujah, hi-ro-jerum.

I've heard this sung by (at least) two great Irish traditional singers Dick Hogan from County Tipperary and Barry Gleeson from Dublin (who has recorded a slightly different version of it on CD. I can't remember the title off hand but I can get details if anyone is interested). Barry's brother is Brendan Gleeson the actor (who is also a fine fiddle player).