"Ballad of Lazarus"

It fell upon a winter day
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
Mary and Martha went to pray,
Send Thy peace upon us.

And with them borne upon a bier
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
Was Lazarus their brother dear.
Send Thy peace upon us.

When he three days did buried lie
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
Jesus Christ came walking by,
Send Thy peace upon us.

'Hadst thou come when we did call thee'
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
'Our brother yet alive would be.'
Send Thy peace upon us.

'Hearken, woman, do not weep'
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
'For thy brother does but sleep.'
Send Thy peace upon us.

Then he knelt upon the earth
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
And cried out: 'Lazarus, come forth.'
Send Thy peace upon us.

Lazarus came from his grave mound
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
About his head a napkin bound.
Send Thy peace upon us.

'O Lord, why didst thou bid me rise?'
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
'This hour I was in paradise.'
Send Thy peace upon us.

'Not for thyself I bade thee come'
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
'From paradise and from the tomb.'
Send Thy peace upon us.

'But for the sake of men to see'
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
'My heavenly father dwells in me.'
Send Thy peace upon us.

A crown of thorns our Lord did take
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
When He was slain for Adam sake.
Send Thy peace upon us.

The briar rose of the green wood
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
Sprung at Golgotha from his blood.
Send Thy peace upon us.

The nettle grows the graves among
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
All for the serpent's lying tongue.
Send Thy peace upon us.

So when you hear the passing bell
--Thorn, briar, nettle grow--
Then pray God save our souls from Hell.
Send Thy peace upon us.

--James K. Baxter