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The youth group at our church was fond of the classic hymn, Amazing Grace. However they chose to put the words with different tunes. My two favorites were The Gilligan’s Island theme and the theme to The Flintstones.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see.
Or this great version from the Four Squeezins. And this post Rollover Parnassus from Electrolite has some great entries. Did you know you can recite Emily Dickinson’s
Because I would not stop for death,
Death kindly stopped for me
The carriage it held but ourselves
And Immortality, and immortality…
I am not sure how you feel about Emily Dickinson’s poetry, but as Larry the Cable Guy says, “Now that’s funny, I don’t care who you aare.”
This is not really new. Many hymns were set to either old folk tunes, or to drinking songs from bars.
And then there are songs with words no one has heard or remember. The theme from Bonanza the long running western series actually has words:
We got a right to pick a little fight–Bonanza! Bonanza!
If anyone fights any one of us
He’s gotta fight with me!
And it goes on like that… probably why the words were never sung.
What common song, poem, limerick, or instruction manual can be repurposed for humor that fits your mission?
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on Jan 11th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I once used an obscure Chuck Willis song.
http://unfinishedrambler.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-am-i-blogging-for-if-not-for-you.html
Also Dan, I wanted to give a long overdue thanks for the review of my blog over at Humorbloggers. Thanks for the kind words.
on Jan 11th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
A few years ago, I read the same thing, that the origins of many beloved Christian hymns are from songs sung in bars.
I found that tidbit to be interesting.
on Jan 15th, 2009 at 2:16 am
German drinking songs — or at least the tunes — were often used with other words to make some of our most familiar hymns today.
Also, a relatively new hymn, “O Christ the Same,” is set to the tune of “Danny Boy”/”Londonderry Aire.”
I’ve attended a program in which the performer used the words of “Amazing Grace” along with the tunes of numerous secular songs. So much fun!
Interesting post!