Said Judas to Mary

This folk-style hymn is based on John 12:1-8 - the story of Martha and Mary and the jar of ointment.

It was written by English historian, folk-singer and song-writer Sydney Bertram Carter (1915-2004) - best known as the author of Lord of the Dance in the early 1960s.

The song was first published in 1964 by Stainer & Bell Ltd in England,  and they  continue to manage the copyright.

Hymn-books where it has been published include:

• 20th Century Folk Hymnal volume 1
• The Complete Come and Praise, BBC, 

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Carter. This has a 6/8 time signature. In the key of Em, the first few notes are B, EEE BBB AGF E  with accompanying chords Em / G / B / Em.    Sheet music for a setting of the song published by Augsburg Publishing is available from J W Pepper, and a simple piano score is also available from Hope Publishing.

Downloads

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Examples

Church concert performance: quartet with guitar, piano, fiddle and dulcimer:

Solo singer with piano, professional recording:

Singer with light piano backing - on screen words:

Solo singer with mandolin:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 Said Judas to Mary, "Now what will you do with your ointment so rich and so rare?"

2 "Oh Mary, Oh Mary, oh think of the poor -- this ointment, it could have been sold,

3 "Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll think of the poor tomorrow," she said, "not today ...

4 Said Jesus to Mary, "Your love is so deep today you may do as you will ...

5 "The poor of the world are my body,' he said ...

6 "My body will hang on the cross of the world tomorrow," he said, "not today ...

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• Hymns based on scripture

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
"Now what will you do with your ointment so rich and so rare?"
"I'll pour it all over the feet of the Lord
and I'll wipe it away with my hair," she said,
"wipe it away with my hair."

"Oh Mary, Oh Mary, oh think of the poor -
this ointment, it could have been sold,
and think of the blankets and think of the
bread you could buy with the silver and
gold," he said,
"buy with the silver and gold."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll think of the poor
tomorrow," she said, "not today;
for dearer than all of the poor in the world is
my love who is going away," she said, "my
love who is going away."

Said Jesus to Mary,
"Your love is so deep
today you may do as you will.
Tomorrow you say I am going away,
but my body I leave with you still," he said,
"my body I leave with you still."

"The poor of the world are my body, he said,
"to the end of the world they shall be,
the bread and the blankets you give to the poor
you'll know you have given to me," he said,
"you'll know you have given to me."

"My body will hang on the cross of the world
tomorrow," he said, "not today,
and Martha and Mary will find me again
and wash all the sorrow away," he said,
"wash all the sorrow away."