Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,Jerome Brown
Date: 23 Feb 24 - 06:55 PM

AT Scouts, we started singing it as "darkie Sunday school", but the pack was quartered at a local church, and I guess some of the members complained. So the Scoutmaster changed it to "Baptist Sunday School".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 07:00 PM

Adam MacNaughton on Spotify. Glasgow Sunday School

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 07:00 PM

Adam MacNaughton on Spotify. Glasgow Sunday School

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: CupOfTea
Date: 13 Oct 16 - 03:24 PM

Synchronicity - This song came up in a song session I went to last night, among a batch of people all older than me. I was tickled to hear a number of verses I didn't know, and the woman leading it used the introduction verse as a chorus, with the name of (some church I can't remember) instead of a denomination & it was "leave your cell phones and pagers at the door." A few of the rest of us tossed in alternate verses, and even verses I knew had been folk processed considerably - or had entirely new verses written to the bible episode

When I mentioned how I'd learned it as part of "Ain't gonna rain no more" a man started in on that, and again, from this older crowd I heard lots of verses that were totally new to me, and totally funny. I dearly wish I'd had the presence of mind to record both of the songs.

If zipper songs are those where you insert a new word or phrase, what is the term for songs that seem to be infinitely expandable with new verses? Great fun!

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Oct 16 - 10:17 AM

Does anybody remember the counterpart to this song?

"I was born about ten thousand years ago
There ain't nothin' in this world that I don't know.
I saw Peter, Paul and Moses playin' 'Ring-around the roses'
And I'll whup the guy that says it isn't so."
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Oct 16 - 08:37 AM

Samson was a strogman in Joe Louis' school
He slew ten thosuand Philistines with the jawbone of a mule,
Then Delilah came along and shaved hi hairy chin,
And when they saw his beaver off, the cops they ran him in.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 12 Oct 16 - 08:50 PM

Harry Pollitt was a bolshie,
One of Lenin'slads,
Til he was foully murder-ed,
By counter-revolutionary cads" etc

Mentioned above, around 2009. There is more, but it's not sung nowadays because Mr Pollitt is long dead.

Chris B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 10:25 PM

The Luther league version was called Norski Sunday School, but was pretty much the same.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: CupOfTea
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 07:59 PM

My dad sang a version of this, though I realized it was a SMALL part of the documented lyrics, the first time I saw it in (might have been Lomax... might have been Sandburg) a folk song collection. I used some of my choice verses when I did a "Folk Music and Faith" series, singing acapella, and holding up signs with the apropriate Bible citation for each verse. The audience provided another half dozen of their favorites that I'd skipped.

I learned it without bubble gum or razors or calling it "Darkie's Sunday School" My dad had conflated it with a few choice verses of "Ain't gonna rain no more" - so I guess that was the first medley I learned through aural tradition. I wonder if kids hear this in camp anymore? Or does the whole song get thrown out on the basis of an unfortunately unacceptible historical title?

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,Senoufou
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 05:41 PM

I lived in Glasgow for years, but have never heard of BVDs.
I've just looked it up, and am laughing my head off.
It stands for 'Boys' Ventilated Drawers' !!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,middleton dave
Date: 11 Oct 16 - 02:30 PM

There one verse I haven't seen in any threads goes ....

Goliath was a giant, a Philistine grenadier
His head was on the level with the top of Blackpool pier.
He was strutting up and down one day, he thought he could't die
Till David picked up half a brick, and lobbed it in his eye.

circa 1960

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,Barbara
Date: 16 Nov 12 - 07:10 PM

My dad taught me a version when I was young.....but only 3 versus... I have been searching ever since for the rest. I'm not sure that these are the ones I'm looking for, but here are the 3 I know:

Adam was a young guy, Eve was his wife.
They lived in Eden for the greater part of life.
Eve ate and apple and Adam ate one too.
And when the good Lord found it out he told them what to do.

Chorus

David was a young guy, a wiry little cuss.
Along came Goliath a kickin' up a fuss.
David heaved a brick at him and hit him in the dome.
And Goliath heard the birdies singing "Home Sweet Home".

Chorus

Jonah was a mariner so runs the ancient tale.
Tried to cross the ocean in a transatlantic whale.
Whale felt sick and Jonah felt depressed.
So Jonah pushed the button and the whale did the rest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 05:42 AM

There's also a 'Filk' version floating about (I can't remember the author) with verses like:

Morbius and Alterra were living all alone,
With half a world of generators just to power their home.
But when she loved a sailor (as the nice girls often do)
Daddy pushed a button, and the whole kaboodle blew.

Gandalf was a light-show man to make your parties swing.
He hung around the night clubs where the elven groupies sing.
A rumble in a cellar bar gave him such a fright
He got born again from Manway, and changed his robe to white.

Chorus:
Filk fen*, fake fen, neo-fen and all
Come to our convention and have yourselves a ball.
Check your swords and dungeon-plans and phasers at the door
And we'll sing you science fiction songs you've never heard brfore

I'll try and find the original

*fen = plural of 'fan' (as in man/men)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: PHJim
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 11:56 PM

Circa 1960, my brother Gary and our friend Jim Cox had a group called The Rovers Three, kind of a Kingston Trio type group. The first three songs in our repertoire were The Gypsy Rover, Jesse James and The Sunday School Song. We learned The Sunday School Song from an Oscar Brand record. I asked my brother if he could help me recall the words and here's what we (mostly he) came up with:

The Sunday School Song

Young folks, old folks, everybody come,
Come into the Sunday school and make yourselves at home,
There's a place to put your chewing gum, just throw it on the floor,
And you'll hear some Bible stories that you've never heard before. (whistle)


Adam was the first man that ever was invented.
Lived all his life, but never was contented.
Made 'em out of mud in the days gone by
Hung 'em on the fence in the sun to get 'em dry. (whistle)


Noah was a mariner who sailed the seven seas,
With half a dozen wives and a big menagerie.
Failed the first season when it rained for forty days
And that kind of weather, the circus never pays. (whistle)


David was a shepherd boy, a scrappy little cuss,
Along came Goliath, a-spoiling for a muss.
David didn't want a fight, but saw he must or bust,
So he snatched him up a cobblestone and bust Goliath's crust. (whistle)


Salome was a dancer who danced the hootchy-cootch.
The people got to like her, 'cause she didn't wear too "mooch"
The king declared "I'm sorry, but I cannot have you here"
Solome said "To hell you can't". and kicked the chandelier. (whistle)

(We can't remember this next verse completely….)

O _____ was a prophet who attended county fairs
He advertised his business with a pair of dancing bears.
_________________________________________
And went up in the evening in a fiery red balloon.

Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego
Disobeyed the king and then were sent below
Into a fiery furnace to be burned around like chaff
But they wore asbestos BVDs and gave the king the laugh. (whistle)

Elijah was a shepherd boy of wild and woolly make
Half the farm belonged to him, and half to brother Jake.
Elijah saw his title to the farm was not so clear
So he sold it to his brother for a sandwich and a beer. (whistle)

There's many of these Bible tales, I'll tell you one tomorrow
How Lot, his wife and family left Sodom and Gomorrah
His wife, she turned to mucilage and stuck upon the spot
Became a salty monument and really missed a "Lot". (whistle)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Fliss
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 08:05 AM

Great to click all the threads and get more verses... we were taught this by a really odd teacher at school.. have always remembered it and never had it written down.

My version of Jehu is

Jehu had a chariot of 97 horse power
He drove through Ramoth Gilead at 100 miles an hour
He had a spot of trouble in the main street of Jezreel
As little bits of Jezabel were sticking to the wheel!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 12 - 11:27 PM

The way I learned some of it, (all I can remember)
OLD FOLKS YOUNG FOLKS EVERYBODY COME
TO THE DARKIE SUNDAY SCHOOL AND HAVE A LOT OF FUN
THERE'S A PLACE TO PARK YOU CHEWING GUM AND RAZORS AT THE DOOR
AND YOU'LL HEAR SOME BIBLE STORIES THAT YOU'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

NOW THE EARTH WAS MADE IN SIX DAYS AND FINISHED ON THE SEVENTH
ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ELEVENTH
BUT THE CARPENTERS GOT DRUNK AND THE MASONS WOULDN'T WORK
SO THE LORD GOT DISGUSTED AND HE FILLED IT UP WITH DIRT
(CHORUS)
The one about Adam and Eve that ended
AND STARTED RAISING CAIN
(CHORUS)
ALONG CAME NOAH STUMBLIN' IN THE DARK
PICKED UP A HAMMER AND BUILT HIMSELF AN ARK
IN CAME THE ANIMALS TWO BY TWO
FIRST THE HIPPOPOTAMUS AND THEN THE WHOLE ZOO
(CHORUS)
NOW DANIEL WAS A WISE MAN AND WOULDN'T MIND A THINKING
BUT THE KING WOULDN'T STAND FOR ANY SUCH THING
SO HE CHUCKED HIM IN A MAN HOLE WITH LIONS UNDERNEATH
BUT DANIEL WAS A DENTIST AND HE PULLED THE LIONS TEETH.
(CHORUS)
There were several more verses, but I just don't remember them. It's fun reading what others have found. Cindy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,James Love
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 05:57 PM

My recollection of this song was round a campfire in the scouts.

The chorsu was
Old folks young folks everybody come
To the darkie sunday school and make yourself at home
Bring your sticks of chewing gum and park them on the floor
And we'll tell you bible stories that you've never heard before

One of the verses was:

Adam was the first man children he had seven
He put them in a donkey cart to take them up to heaven
Sad to say he lost the way although he knew it well
And he overturned the donkey cart and landed up in .....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 May 08 - 01:23 AM

Arran, there's a version above (click here) that may or may not come from Adam McNaughtan.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Joe_F
Date: 10 May 08 - 10:21 PM

I learned (essentially) the Song Fest version, in high school, ca. 1952. A teacher sang it in assembly -- darky, razors, and all. He was black, British, and a former preacher. He also sang "'Arry Pollit", in an era when making *fun* of Communists was decidedly risque. Times do change, for better or worse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: goatfell
Date: 10 May 08 - 07:24 AM

I would like Adam McNaughtan's version, please.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,Sylvie
Date: 10 May 08 - 06:51 AM

My Mum went hop picking in Cradley, Herefordshire in the 1920's. Whole families decamped from towns in the West Midlands to work in the hop fields during September. They amused themselves with singsongs in the evenings. Here is the hop pickers' version of the chorus:

Old folks, young folks, everybody come,
To the hoppers' concert, make yourself at home,
Bring your pipes and toffee bars and sit upon the floor
and we'll tell you funny stories that you've never heard before.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST,Kenny B Sans Kuki
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 07:31 PM

Additional Verses From the Glasgow Sunday School

1 Ruth was a maiden, of the ultra-modern type,
She smoked a lot of funny fags and also tried a pipe,
She hung around the students pubs, and would often give the glad,
But the Band of Hope has saved from going to the bad,. .... Chorus

2 Solomon and David led very naughty lives,
Flirting every afternoon with other peoples wives,
But sometimes in the evenings when their conscience gave them qualms,
Solomon wrote the proverbs and David wrote the Psalms .... Chorus

3 Jehu drove a chariot in the Philistine war,
He graduated later to a Corporation Caur,
And shouting out "C'moan get aff" he drove with fearsome zeal,
Till little bits of Jezebel got tangled in his wheel,.... Chorus

4 In the land of Babylon when Belshazar was king,
He cried, "Ah'll no obey the Lord, I'm gaunny have ma fling,"
He knew his fling was over and he cried, "All flesh is grass,"
When he saw the writing on the wall "Persians Ya bass"
…. Chorus

5 Pharoah chased the Israelites to try to bring them back,
He saw them walk across the sea without a plastic mac,
Pharoah cried, "Ill do the same, to prove that I'm no mug"
"I'll show these dirty Israelites…Glug-al glug-al glug."
…. Chorus

6 Shadrak was a prophet that was chucked intae the fire,
And expected by the stokers to immediately expire,
When the furnace door was opened the asbestos laddie laughed,
He said "Hey Jimmie, keep it shut, I canny staun the draught"
…. Chorus

7 Jesus had a problem, how to feed five thousand folk,
Would he have a runnin' buffet, or a purvey in a poke,
He turned to the disciples, says, "What do you think they'd wish,"
Andrew says "It's Friday Lord, ye'll have tae gie them fish"
…. Chorus

8 Christ went to a waddin' in the Galilee Hotel,
There wisnae any liquor, things were lookin' far from well,
Christ went tae the water tank and cried "Oh help me Fadder"
The cauld tap ran wi' VP wine, the hot wi' Eldorada,
.... Chorus

9 Samson was a strong man he lived on fish and chips,
He walked about the Gallowgate, Picken' up the nips
Samson had a brother, he was strong as well,
When his brother went to heaven, poor Samson went to He..
!...... Chorus

Verses 1-8 - Adam McNaughtan & Galsgow University Songbook 19xx
Verse 9 Granny B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: NH Dave
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 12:55 AM

One name for the original request is, "Darkie's Sunday School", but that became politically incorrect so it is usually sung, "Come to our Sunday School." The
Darkies' Sunday School is in the database at the link indicated.

I know we used to sing it at camp some 50 years ago, well before the Civil Rights Movement, but that didn't make it right, and we should have known better. Generallly Googling "Darkies' Sunday School" will get you 30 odd verses.

Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Peace
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:30 PM

Try the following instead

http://www.whitetreeaz.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 08:10 PM

http://www.whitetreeaz.com/yfof/yfofword.htm

more versions than you've ever heard of.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 10:01 AM

Dick, you have it already. It first has been posted by catfeet on 29 July 1997.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 06:00 PM

Chipmunk- We have The Dog's Meeting but, sadly, NOT the Hartpoole Monkey. If yoiu'd be so kind as to post the words, we'll have that one, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From:
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 05:10 PM

Thanks for all the help everyone. Your tips have led me to a cuple pages of lyrics that sound very familiar. Thanks again, Marty J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: mick cahill
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 04:26 PM

There's lots of versions of this song, I know it as Bible stories there is a version about :-

the doggies had a meeting, they came from near and far,(this is a story about arseholes)

and the Hartlepool(how's it spelt bill?) monkey (where a monkey was hanged as a spy)

mike cahill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: old folks young folks everybody come
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 03:52 PM

There's a quite complete version in the DT. Try typing [Sunday School] in the search blank up there on the right. Then hit the "go" button and scroll down to #4. Some word changes are advised, of course. Use your own discretion.

Sandy

Subject: old folks young folks everybody come
From:
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 03:12 PM

I'm trying to find all the lyrics to an old campfire song. It starts out. Old folks young folks everybody come. Come to the meeting house and have yourself some fun. Check your wads of chewing gum and_________ ? at the door and I'll tell you bible stories that you've never heard before. Any help would be greatly appreciated...Regards, Marty J.

Subject: RE: Finding Folksongs
From: Caolainn
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 03:26 PM

I'm also looking for a song that has a chorus like this...

"Come to the Glasgow Sunday School. They'll tell ya bible stories like ye'v never heard before. Come to the Glasgow Sunday School."

Thanks, Caolainn