Origins: A Place in the choir, by the late great

Subject: Origins: A Place in the choir , by the late great
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Aug 23 - 06:02 AM

I thought it was entitled All God's Critters .

Then I discovered the lyric where the last verse was not the final verse that appears in Bill's .

Looking for clarity

Thanks

Subject: RE: Origins: A Place in the choir , by the late great
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 22 Aug 23 - 07:21 AM

The book and song both have the title "All God's Critters"
The song is known by several names in the wide world,such as All God's creatures and The Choir.In other words it has gone through the "Folk process" and has been adapted by oral transmission,the original version
is known but singers have started to change words as the song is passed along.

---

Derrick, the lyrics in the Digital Tradition are exactly the same as the lyrics Bill Staines published in his songbook. We don't always get it exactly right, but we did this time.
Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor

Subject: RE: Origins: A Place in the choir , by the late great
From: The Og
Date: 22 Aug 23 - 11:34 AM

A Place in the Choir (?)
Bill Staines (190

    1                                     4
    All God’s critters got a place in the choir,
    1                         5
    Some sing low, some sing higher,
    1                                  4
    Some sing out on the telephone wire,
            1
    And some just clap their hands, or paws or

          …anything they got now.

1
Listen to the bass, it’s the one on the bottom,
                5
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus,
1
Moans and groans with a big t’do
             5                           1
And the old cow just goes moo.

The dogs and cats they take the middle,
While the honeybees hum and the crickets fiddle,
The donkey brays and the pony neighs,
And the ol’ coyote howls
        _ _ _

Listen to the top where the little birds sing,
On the melody where the highest notes ring,
The hoot owl hollers over everything,
And the jaybird disagrees.

Singin’ in the night time, singin’ in the day,
The little duck quacks then he’s on his way,
The possum ain’t got much to say,
And the porcupine talks to himself.
    _ _ _

It’s a simple song, sung everywhere,
By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear,
The grumpy alligator and the hawk above,
The sly raccoon and the turtle dove.

    _ _ _

Subject: RE: Origins: A Place in the choir , by the late great
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Aug 23 - 09:24 PM

Bill Staines 1947-2022

My friend's 8 year old granddaughter sings in a children's choir & I'm sending the lyrics & these links to her in case the choir doesn't know it.

videos - Bill's original version.
a fun version for kids

Subject: RE: Origins: A Place in the choir, by the late great
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Aug 23 - 12:17 AM

In the second verse, 'bottom' rhymes with the 'potam' part of 'hippopotamus,' like this:

   Listen to the bass, it’s the one on the bottom,
               
   Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotam-

   us moans and groans with a big t’do...

I sing 'creatures'. I haven't ever heard anybody say 'critters' except in a jokey way, and if you're singing about God's creatures, 'critters' just doesn't seem right. Just my opinion, of course.

I love its rollicking tune. It sets people swaying.

Subject: RE: Origins: A Place in the choir, by the late great
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Aug 23 - 12:22 AM

like this:

great rendition

Subject: RE: Origins: A Place in the choir, by the late great
From: The Og
Date: 24 Aug 23 - 10:49 AM

Wrote this parody to try to increase church choir membership...use it if you like it

A Place in the Choir…human parody (?)       Bill Ogden (2023)
after Bill Staines (1979)

    1                                                   
    All you critters got a place in the choir,
    5                            1
    If you sing low or if you sing higher,
    4                         1
    Vocal skills you can acquire,
                                       5               1
    “Or maybe you can clap your hands, or stamp your         feet …or hum along as you think good
       thoughts.”

1
Sing Soprano where the melodies ring,
5                               1
Up on top where the high notes wing,
                                 4
You’ll be heard over ev’rything,
1                5                         1
“Everybody loves to sing the tune.”

Altos and Tenors are in the middle,
They sing harmony or just diddle, with the
Sound that comes from a fine-tuned fiddle,
“Or maybe just a moth-eaten accordion that’s had a really bad day.”
    _ _ _

Listen to the basses, they’re on the bottom,
Croakin’ like a frog or a hippo-potam, …us
Sing those low notes if you’ve gott’em,
“Or maybe you could just grunt and smile.”

Singin’ in the nighttime, singin’ in the day,
Sunday anthem and you’re on your way,
Bein’ in the choir is child’s play,
“And you get this real cool outfit to wear.”
    _ _ _

Wednesday practice, Sunday fun,
Belting out music like a gatling gun, there’s a
A place in the Choir for everyone,
“So don’t be shy, get up here and join us.”
    _ _ _