Thanks for checking out the various hymn source Gargoyle. I have also searched the net over the years for more information about this piece. Most of what I have found is merely a repeat of what Bryars has said on his website and on the sleevenote of the 1993 recording (if memory serves me right. I don't have the cd with me at the moment). As I said in my first post it could well be that the guy came up with the words himself.

Katlaughing, you mentioned that it sounds as if he has used snippets from 'Jesus Loves Me'. Can you give me any more details on that or point me in the direction of the lyrics to the piece you are referring to?

I first heard of the piece when I saw the CD advertised in the paper back in 1993. It was the Tom Waits involvement which drew my attention. Gavin Bryars has written about recording the Waits vocal and you can read it here

You can also read some Waits' comments on the piece, along with another article by Bryars about recording with Waits, at the Tom Waits Library here


Any other ideas on the possible origin of these words would be appreciated.