Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys

Subject: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Hamish
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 03:49 AM

Some time back I recorded nearly all of a song "when the old testament was new my boys" which is (clearly!) a parody of When Jones's Ale Was New. But it took me a verse or two to realise I was witnessing something a bit special and to get my phone into record mode. So I missed those first couple of vital verses.

The first one I've got is:

Well the next to come in was Eve
With a figure you wouldn't believe
From what Adam could perceive
Between them figgy leaves
Well Adam he grinned and sat down on the ground
For he knew that in time those leaves would turn brown
And it that first autumn come tumbling down
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

Any help greatly appreciated :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: doc.tom
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 05:13 AM

Hamish - I can help - PM me with your e-mail address.
Tom Brown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Hamish
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 02:13 PM

Thanks, Tom! Duly PMd :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Apr 18 - 02:40 PM

Hi, Tom -
Would you be willing to post the lyrics and what you know of the song in the thread, so we all can see the song?
My curiosity has been titillated.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 04:30 AM

I'm with Joe for the lyrics as well

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 11:49 AM

Yeah, Terry and I are just sitting here being titillated. You never know what might happen....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Hamish
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 11:56 AM

Well... this is what I've got:

(--Four lines missing--)
So to pass the time while he did wait
God made him a woman to be his mate
So the Jehovial crew they could start to create
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

Well the next to come in was Eve
With a figure you wouldn't believe
From what Adam could perceive
Between them figgy leaves
Well Adam he grinned and sat down on the ground
For he knew that in time them leaves would turn brown
And in that first autumn come tumbling down
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

Well the next to come in was the serpent
Upon creating mischief he was bent
He suggested to Eve that she ferment
Some sort of Jehovial brew
He said from God’s apples I’m sure you could make
A brew that from which all would gladly partake
At our garden party all thirsts it would slake
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

So that’s when they invented cider
And when Eve had got some inside her
She fell over and found lying beside her
Was Adam who’d fallen down too
Well Adam he grinned and said “This is the tops
I’ll fathom the bowl right down to the slops
And this’ll do fine until He creates hops”
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

Then Jehovah He came in all ratty
Cos their noise had been driving Him batty
He jumped up and down on His hat he
Weren’t too pleased with the Jehovial crew
And He said to Eve “You’ve just fallen and been
And invented original sin
And ruined me kip with your unholy din
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

So Adam was forced to leave
And the next to get chucked out was Eve
Oh how their poor hearts they did grieve
To leave Jehovah’s back yard
Then God glared at the serpent and said “You’re most to blame
For that bloody racket that drove me insane
Oh legless you got and thus shall remain”
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

So it’s thanks to getting God’s goat
That the apple still sticks in man’s throat
Though it all happened in times remote
That carouse of the Jehovial crew
But it’s still much the same in a funny way
That drinking cider takes dull care away
And gives a taste o heaven but it’s hell the next day
When the Old Testament was new, my boys...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Apr 18 - 06:15 PM

More! More!

Subject: ADD: When the Old Testament Was New (Bob Higgs)
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Apr 18 - 04:47 AM

Thank you, Tom, for sending me a recording from 1986. Bob Higgs wrote it. Here's a full, revised transcription:

When the Old Testament was New Bob Higgs

WHEN THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS NEW
(Bob Higgs)

Well the first to come in was Jehovah
To be nice to him it does behove yah
Cos he could stomp all oviah
For He is omnipotent
And He said from the firmament on high
That there’s the earth, this here’s the sky
And I’ll sort out the details by and by
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

Next Adam came in and got lonely
While there was just him only
He stood there and even alone he
Had to await the Jehovial crew
And to pass the time on he did wait
God made him a woman to be his mate
So the Jehovial crew they could start to create
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

So the next to come in was Eve
With a figure you wouldn't believe
From what Adam could perceive
Between them figgy leaves
Well Adam he grinned and sat down on the ground
Cos he knew if he waited them leaves would turn brown
And in that first autumn come tumbling down
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

And the next to come in was a serpent
Upon creating mischief he was bent
He suggested to Eve that she ferment
Some sort of Jehovial brew
He said from God’s apples I’m sure you could make
A brew which from which all would gladly partake
At our garden party all thirsts it will slake
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

So that’s when they invented cider
And when Eve had got some inside her
She fell over and found lying beside her
Was Adam who’d fallen down too
He smiled at Eve, said “This is the tops
I’ll fathom the bowl right down to the slops
And this’ll do fine until He creates hops”
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

Then Jehovah came back in all ratty
Cos their noise had been driving Him batty
He jumped up and down on His hat he
Weren’t too pleased with the Jehovial crew
And He said to Eve “You’ve just gone and been
And invented a rather original sin
And ruined me kip with your unholy din
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

So Adam he had to leave
And the next to get chucked out was Eve
Oh how their poor hearts they did grieve
To leave Jehovah’s back yard
Then God glared at the serpent said “You’re most to blame
For that bloody racket that drove Me insane
Oh legless you got and thus will remain”
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

So it’s thanks to getting God’s goat
That the apple still sticks in man’s throat
Though it all happened in times remote
That carouse of the Jehovial crew
But it’s still much the same in a funny way
That drinking cider takes dull care away
And gives a taste of heaven but it’s hell the next day
When the Old Testament was new, me boys...

--

We know little about Bob Higgs so any information greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Apr 18 - 11:52 PM

Ahhhh.
Thank you very much, Hamish.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: doc.tom
Date: 23 Apr 18 - 09:56 AM

The tune, of course, is the standard "Johns' Ale"
TomB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: when the old testament was new my boys
From: Hamish
Date: 27 Apr 18 - 04:12 AM

Or even When Jones's Ale Was New. Hence the whole point of the parody. Plus the The next to come in was the tinker and he was no small beer drinker, And he was no small beer-drinker to join the jovial crew which gives rise to the Jehovial crew motif.