Better Live Humble

DESCRIPTION: Chorus: "Better live humble, Better live mild, Better live like some heavenly child." Unbelievers cried to be let onto Noah's ark. Green trees die as well as the parched. People with an elaborate grave die like those with a simple grave.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1921 (Redfearn)
KEYWORDS: Bible floatingverses nonballad religious Jesus
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
JournalOfAmericanFolklore, Susan Fort Redfearn, "Songs from Georgia," Vol. 34, No. 131 (Jan-Mar 1921), p. 121, "Have You Seen the Sha?" (1 text)
NOTES [167 words]: In Redfearn's text the singer will discuss how things die with the Father and the Son. See the notes to "John, John" for other examples. - BS
The mention of the green trees dying is presumably a reference to Luke 23:31, "For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" (King James). A better translation might be "If they do this in [the] wet (υγρω, hygro) wood/tree, what will come in the dry (ξηρω, xero)?" (There is some disagreement about whether to add or omit the word "the" before "wet"; two very important manuscripts, B and C, omit it.) No one seems sure what the phrase means, except that things are likely to get worse rather than better in future; it has been suggested that it is a proverb. I incline to think that it has something to do with fire: If the current times, when the wood is wet, bring fire and burning, how much more will you be afflicted by fire when the wood is dry. But what social conditions distinguish wet from dry wood I have no idea. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.3
File: AdBeLiHu

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