“Pass Under the Rod”
Description
The singer variously sees "a young bride in her beauty and pride," a "young mother in tenderness band," and parents falling victim to "idolatrous love," but a Healer came to rescue them, saying "I love thee, I love thee, pass under the rod."
Notes
As best I can tell, the phrase "pass under the rod" is an allusion to the King James Version text of Ezekiel 20:37, which refers to bringing transgressors back into the covenant. Leviticus 27:32 uses the same phrase (referring to the holy tithes of animals), but this strikes me as even more of a stretch. - RBW
References
- Randolph 650, "Pass Under the Rod" (2 texts)
- Roud #7571
- BI, R650