The author is
unknown: it was collected by English Anglican priest, hagiographer,
antiquarian, folk song collector and scholar, Sabine
Baring-Gould (1834–1924) from John Dingle of Coryton in 1904. The tune
was noted down by Baring-Gould's at-the-time junior colleague Cecil Sharp (ref).
1 Come all you worthy Christians
That dwell upon this land,
Don't spend your time in rioting:
Remember you're but man.
Be watchful for your latter end;
Be ready when you're called.
There are many changes in this world;
Some rise while others fall.
2 Now, Job he was a patient man,
The richest in the East :
When he was brought to poverty,
His sorrows soon increased.
He bore them all most patiently;
From sin he did refrain;
He always trusted in the Lord;
He soon got rich again.
3 Come all you worthy Christians
That are so very poor,
Remember how poor Lazarus
Lay at the rich man's door,
While begging of the crumbs of bread
That from his table fell.
The Scriptures do inform us all
That in heaven he doth dwell.
4 The time, alas, it soon will come
When parted we shall be;
But all the difference it will make
Is in joy and misery.
And we must give a strict account
Of great as well as small:
Believe me, now, dear Christian friends,
That God will judge us all.
Cecil Sharp in a later publication stated that he got the words and tune from
Mrs. Eliza Woodberry, of Ash Priors, and that he had heard perhaps four
different variations of them.
It was published in several editions of the book Folk Songs from Somerset. Set II. (edited by Sharp, in at least 1908 and 1911. Also, It was published in broadsides during the 19th century as under titles "One God [has] made us all", "Poverty and Contentment", and as "Job, the Patient Man".
It is refers to the biblical stories of Job of Lazarus and Dives (Luke 16:19-32).
Some more recent publications and performances have used the title Come all You Faithful Christian Folk.
It was published in several editions of the book Folk Songs from Somerset. Set II. (edited by Sharp, in at least 1908 and 1911. Also, It was published in broadsides during the 19th century as under titles "One God [has] made us all", "Poverty and Contentment", and as "Job, the Patient Man".
It is refers to the biblical stories of Job of Lazarus and Dives (Luke 16:19-32).
Some more recent publications and performances have used the title Come all You Faithful Christian Folk.
Downloads
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Examples
Singer with orchestral instruments
Singer, self-accompanied on guitar:
Unaccompanied singer, professional recording:
Lyrics
1 Come all you worthy Christians
That dwell upon this land,
Don't spend your time in rioting:
Remember you're but man.
Be watchful for your latter end;
Be ready when you're called.
There are many changes in this world;
Some rise while others fall.
2 Now, Job he was a patient man,
The richest in the East :
When he was brought to poverty,
His sorrows soon increased.
He bore them all most patiently;
From sin he did refrain;
He always trusted in the Lord;
He soon got rich again.
3 Come all you worthy Christians
That are so very poor,
Remember how poor Lazarus
Lay at the rich man's door,
While begging of the crumbs of bread
That from his table fell.
The Scriptures do inform us all
That in heaven he doth dwell.
4 The time, alas, it soon will come
When parted we shall be;
But all the difference it will make
Is in joy and misery.
And we must give a strict account
Of great as well as small:
Believe me, now, dear Christian friends,
That God will judge us all.
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