Poor Lazarus lyrics

Well, the high sheriff

He told his deputy

Want you go out and bring me Lazarus

Well, the high sheriff

Told his deputy

I want you go out and bring me Lazarus

Bring him dead or alive,

Lord, Lord

Bring him dead or alive

Well the deputy he told the high sheriff

I ain't gonna mess with Lazarus

Well the deputy he told the high sheriff

Says I ain't gonna mess with Lazarus

Well he's a dangerous man

Lord, Lord,

He's a dangerous man

Well then the high sheriff, he found Lazarus

He was hiding in the chill of a mountain

Well the high sheriff, found Lazarus

He was hiding in the chill of the mountain1

With his head hung down

Lord, Lord,

With his head hung down

Well then the high sheriff, he told Lazarus

He says Lazarus I come to arrest you

Well the high sheriff, told Lazarus

Says Lazarus I come to arrest you

And bring you dead or alive

Lord, Lord,

Bring you dead or alive

Well then Lazarus, he told the high sheriff

Says I never been arrested

Well Lazarus, told the high sheriff

Says I never been arrested

By no one man

Lord, Lord,

By no one man

And then the high sheriff, he shot Lazarus

Well, he shot him mighty big number

Well the high sheriff, shot Lazarus

Well he shot him with a mighty big number2

With a forty five

Lord, Lord,

With a forty five3

Well then they take old Lazarus

Yes they laid him on the commissary gallery

Well they taken poor Lazarus

And they laid him on the commissary gallery4

He said my wounded side

Lord, Lord,

My wounded side!

1. This phrase is mostly used because of its poetic quality, but it means he is hiding high in the mountains; far away from civilization, in the permanent cold of the high altitudes.2. See below explanation.3. That is, a .45 caliber pistol, probably a Colt .45 single action army revolver.4. Literally the porch in front of a general store, often the most obvious public place, where the captured outlaw would be put on display.

• Artist:American Folk
• Album:O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)