Jim Lucas sang this at the Mudcat Singaround today. Good song.

THE POPE

The Pope he leads a jolly life,
He’s free from every care and strife;
He drinks the best of Rhenish wine,
I would the Pope’s gay life were mine.

He drinks the best of Rhenish wine,
I would the Pope’s gay life were mine.

But he don’t lead a jolly life,
He has no maid or blooming wife,
He has no son to raise his hope,
Oh! I would not be the Pope.

He has no son to raise his hope,
Oh! I would not be the Pope.

The Sultan better pleases me,
His life is full of jolity,
He’s wives as many as he will,
I fain the Sultan’s throne would fill.

He’s wives as many as he will,
I fain the Sultan’s throne would fill.

But still he is a wretched man,
He must obey the Al-Koran,
He dare not drink one drop of wine,
I would not change his lot for mine.

He dare not drink one drop of wine,
I would not change his lot for mine.

So when the maiden kisses me,
I’ll think that I the Sultan be,
And when my Rhenish wine I tope,
Oh then I’ll think that I’m the Pope.

“The Pope” is apparently actually a translation of a German drinking song , so be sure to file this away somewhere for next year’s Oktoberfest. Aspiring musicians can find sheet music for the Yale version on page five here .

https://firstthings.com/the-pope-he-leads-a-jolly-life/

Anybody know the origins of this song?

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Here are the lyrics from page 85 of Songs for Swinging Housemothers by Frank Lynn (1961, James Leisy Music)

THE POPE

The Pope he leads a jolly life, jolly life,
He’s free from every care and strife, care and strife;
He drinks the best of Rhenish wine,
I would the Pope’s gay life were mine.
He drinks the best of Rhenish wine,
I would the Pope’s gay life were mine.

No, the Pope he leads a wretched life, wretched life
He has no maid or blooming wife, blooming wife,
He has no son to raise his hope,
Indeed, I would not be the Pope. (repeat last 2 lines)

The Sultan better pleases me, pleases me,
His life is full of jollity, jollity,
His wives are many as he will,
I fain the Sultan’s throne would fill. (repeat last 2 lines)

The Sultan is he is a wretched man, wretched man,
He must obey the Alkoran, Alkoran,
He dare not drink one drop of wine,
I would not change his lot for mine. (repeat last 2 lines)

So when my sweetheart kisses me, kisses me,
It's then I'd fain the Sultan be, sultan be,
And when my Rhenish wine I tope —
Why then I’ll think that I’m the Pope. (repeat last 2 lines)

The coed leads a sloppy life, sloppy life
She eats potatoes with her knife, with her knife,
And once a year she takes an awful scrub,
And leaves a ring around the tub. (repeat last 2 lines)

Melody transcribed upon request joe@mudcat.org

Roud No. V13967