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18 Sep 10 - 10:22 AM (#2989211) Subject: Lyr Req: Vicar is a beatnik From: Johnjo Does anyone have the lyrics for the old Sydney Carter song 'Vicar is a Beatnik'? I used to sing it as a kid, when torturing a guitar, and have just started strumming again after a gap of 30+ years. I can remember the chords, but have forgotten most of the lyrics. (Google has been less than helpful). Thanks John |
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18 Sep 10 - 02:02 PM (#2989297) Subject: Lyr Add: VICAR IS A BEATNIK (Sydney Carter) From: Tim Chesterton This is entirely from memory, so it may not be 100% accurate: VICAR IS A BEATNIK (Sydney Carter) 'Good morning', said the vicar, with a banjo round his neck; 'We're digging up the crypt', he said, 'to make a discotheque'. So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, For the vicar is a beatnik and he ought to be defrocked. At early morning service he plays a mandolin; I'm never there to hear it but I think it is a sin. So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, For the vicar is a beatnik and he ought to be defrocked. I love the merry organ and the bells across the snow; I love the Church of England, although I never go. I love the dear old Bible with 'Jehovah', and 'begat' - It's not that I believe in it or anything like that! (It's not that we believe in it or anything like that). Just marry us and bury us the way you used to do - With a blast upon the organ, and not on your kazoo. So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, For the vicar is a beatnik and he ought to be defrocked. |
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18 Sep 10 - 09:14 PM (#2989466) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a beatnik From: GUEST,.gargoyle To: TIM CHESTERTON and JOHNJO
What a truly delightful addition.
If you can recall....what where approxiamte years....and global locations you first heard these in? The format or publisher? Do you recall what drew you to the location? (purchased albumn, friend's house, coffee house, live backstage backup band (just kidding.))
Sincerely, |
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18 Sep 10 - 10:27 PM (#2989493) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a beatnik From: Tim Chesterton According to Sidney's obit in the Independent, the song came out in 1969. In my mind it is connected with the old 'Faith, Folk, and Clarity' songbook, but I'm fairly sure it wasn't actually one of the songs in it. My Dad was a vicar ('tho not a beatnik!) and I remember our choir actually sang this song a couple of times. |
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19 Sep 10 - 12:44 PM (#2989754) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a beatnik From: GUEST,Johnjo Thanks for jogging the old memory. I had a vague idea that there was mention of loving the CofE but never going. I suppose I first heard the song in the early-mid 1970s, certainly before 1976, from school friends. Again, thanks for the reminder. John |
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19 Sep 10 - 12:51 PM (#2989759) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a beatnik From: SylviaN Don't forget, you can get most of what Sydney Carter wrote, including song books, from Stainer & Bell. |
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19 Sep 10 - 08:28 PM (#2989997) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a beatnik From: Joe_F I myself once attended a bisexual beer blast in the basement of a Baptist church (no prizes, if you live in New England, for guessing which one). |
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11 Dec 12 - 07:41 PM (#3450723) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a Beatnik (Sydney Carter) From: GUEST |
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12 Dec 12 - 07:43 PM (#3451153) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a Beatnik (Sydney Carter) From: Bob Bolton G'day all 'Catters that need their reading glasses ... I bought all the early Sydney Carter books ... after hearing him at the 1972 (Ausralian) National Folk Festival ... Easter 1972 - and thenin Sydney, the next week, The first ( .. three ...) books are full of his great songs ... but lyrics are in rather cramped 7-point type. The latest one I bought (Book #4 or # 5 ... ?) was put out in the same book size by the new owners of Stainer & Bell ... but the lyrics are set (printed) in 5-point type ... that's about one quarter of the area ( - or half the height - ) of a comfortable reading type for anybody ... other than myopic bats!!! There are more good songs in there ... but you might have to photocopy them at 2 to 3 X magnification ... before you know what you are singing! Regard(les), Bob |
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13 Dec 12 - 03:49 PM (#3451486) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a Beatnik (Sydney Carter) From: GUEST we get this song from Mike Sparks at Herga folk club from time to time |
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17 Oct 17 - 06:29 AM (#3882725) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Vicar is a Beatnik (Sydney Carter) From: GUEST,John Fay "Good morning," said the vicar, a banjo round his neck. "We're digging up the crypt," he said, "to make a discotheque." So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. At early morning services he plays a mandolin. I've never been to hear him, but I know it is a sin, So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. We love the merry organ and the bells across the snow. We love the Church of England, although we never go, And we love the dear old Bible, with "Jehovah" and "begat," It's not that we believe in it or anything like that. It's not that we believe in it or anything like that. Just marry us and bury us the way you used to do With a blast upon your organ and not on your kazoo, So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. We love the merry organ and the bells across the snow. We love the Church of England, although we never go, So we're writing to the bishop to say that we are shocked, The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. The vicar is a beatnik, he ought to be unfrocked. We had a record in the 1970s titled "Songs of Sydney Carter." This was on it. I am operating from a 40 - year-old memory here. |