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Po Lazarus lyrics by James Carter & the Prisoners

 

Po Lazarus Song 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,
Lawd, Lawd
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
Lawd, Lawd
He's a dangerous man
Well then the high sheriff, he found Lazarus
He was hidin' in the chill of a mountain
Well the high sheriff, found Lazarus
He was hidin' in the chill of the mountain
With his head hung down
Lawd, Lawd
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 ya dead or alive
Lawd, Lawd
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
Lawd, Lawd
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 number
With a forty five
Lawd, Lawd
With a forty five
Well then they take old Lazarus
Yes they laid him on the commissary gallery
Well they taken poor Lazarus
And the laid him on the commissary gallery
He said my wounded side
Lawd, Lawd
My wounded side



About

May, 07th 2014
The song "Po' Lazarus" by James Carter and the Prisoners is a powerful narrative deply rooted in the African American folk tradition. It tells the story of Lazarus, a man who becomes a target for the law, specifically the high sheriff and his deputy. The narrative unfolds with a series of dialogues and actions that illustrate themes of authority, rebellion, and mortality.

The high sheriff's command to bring Lazarus "dead or alive" highlights the brutal reality of juustice and law enforcement in the era the song reflects, likely pointing to the harsh treatment of African Americans. Lazarus's resistance and the deputy's reluctance to confront him underscore the fear and respect Lazarus commands. This fear is not just of Lazarus's physical power but perhaps also of his moral or spiritual strength, as his name evokes the Biblical Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus.

Lazarus's hiding in the "chill of a mountain" and his ultimate fate at the hands of the high sheriff, who shoots him with a "mighty big number" and a "forty five," symbolizes the inevitable clash between oppressive forces and the individual's struggle for dignity and freedom. The mention of Lazarus's "wounded side" as he lies on the "commissary gallery" could be seen as a Christ-like image, suggesting martyrdom and the enduring spirit of resistance against injustice.

The song, collected in the field and popularized by the soundtrack of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", has its roots in work songs and chants from the American South, specifically those sung by African American prisoners. These songs often served as a means of coping with imprisonment, hard labor, and the injustices of the penal system, while also preserving cultural identity and expressing covert resistance to oppressive conditions.

"Po' Lazarus" is thus much more than a simple folk tale; it is a complex narrative that reflects the struggles, injustices, and resilience of the African American experience. Through its vivid storytelling and the emotional depth of its performance, the song connects listeners to a rich cultural tradition of storytelling, resistance, and survival.

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