“Come All You Worthy Christian Men”

Description

The singer warns Christians to behave properly, remembering Job and Lazarus. First verse: "Come all you worthy Christian men That dwell upon this land, Don't spend your time in rioting, Remember you're but man...."

Notes

The story of Lazarus is a parable of Jesus, recounted in Luke 16:19-31 (the Lazarus of John 11, 12 is unrelated). Thus there never was an actual Lazarus who lay at a rich man's door; he was simply an example.

The case of Job is, to say the least, more complicated. The Bible does indeed report that he was "the richest [man] in the east" (Job 1:3), that "he was brought to poverty" (Job 1:13-19), and that he "soon got rich again" (Job 42:10f.). But it can hardly be said that Job bore all this uncomplainingly; most of Job chapters 3-30 are devoted to his complaints! - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Rounding the Horn" (tune)

References

1. Sharp-100E 91, "Come All You Worthy Christian Men" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. OBC 60, "Job" (1 text, 4 tunes)
3. ADDITIONAL: Maud Karpeles, _Folk Songs of Europe_, Oak, 1956, 1964, p. 47, "Come All You Worthy Christian Men" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Roud #815
5. BI, ShH91