Well it fell out upon one day rich Diverus he gave a feast
And invited all his neighbours in and gentry of the best
And it fell out upon that day poor Lazarus he was so poor
He came and laid him down and down even down at Diverus door

Well Lazarus laid him down and down even down at Diverus door

Some meat some drink brother Diverus to bestow upon the poor

Thou art none of mine brother Lazarus lying begging at my door

No meat no drink will I give to thee or bestow upon the poor

Well Lazarus laid him down and down even down at Diverus wall

Some meat some drink brother Diverus or surely starve I shall

Thou art none of mine brother Lazarus lying begging at my wall

No meat no drink will I give to thee and surely starve you shall

Then Lazarus laid him down and down even down at Diverus gate

Some meat some drink brother Diverus for Jesus Christ his sake

Thou art none of mine brother Lazarus lying begging at my gate

No meat no drink will I give to thee for Jesus Christ's sake

Then Diverus sent out his merry men all for to whip poor Lazarus away

But they had no power to whip one whip and threw their whips away

Then Diverus sent out his hungry dogs for to bite poor Lazarus away

They had no power to bite one bite but licked his wounds away

Well it fell out upon one day poor Lazarus he sickened and died

And they sent three angels out of heaven his soul there for to guide

Rise up rise up brother Lazarus and come along with me
There is a place prepared in heaven to sit upon an angel’s knee.

Then it fell out upon one day rich Diverus he sickened and died

And they sent three serpents out of hell his soul there for to guide

Rise up rise up brother Diverus and come along with me
There is a place prepared in hell to sit upon a serpents knee.

Folk Songs