This is a Lyle Lovett tune, from his album "Joshua Judges Ruth." We hope you enjoy it.
lyrics
I went to church last Sunday so I could sing and pray
But something quite unusual happened on that day
Now church it started right on time just like it does without a doubt
And everything was all just fine except when it came time to let us out
You know the preacher he kept preaching, he told us I have one more thing to say
Children before you think of leaving, you better think about the Judgment Day
And now everyone was getting so hungry that the old ones started feeling ill
And the weak ones started passing out and the young ones they could not sit still
And the preacher's voice rose higher, so I snuck up on the balcony
And I crept into the choir, and I begged them brothers, sisters, help me please
I said when I give you a signal – I said when I raise up my hand
Won't you please join with me together and praise the Lord I have a plan
And the preacher he kept preaching. Long is the struggle, hard the fight
And I prayed, Father please forgive me, and then I stood up and with all my might
I sang
To the Lord let praises be, it's time for dinner now let's go eat
We've got some beans and some good cornbread, and I listened to what the preacher said
Now it's to the Lord let praises be, it's time for dinner now let's go eat
Yes and I did give a signal, yes and I raised up my hands
And then joined with me the choir, yes every woman, child, and man
They sang
(chorus)
And the preacher he stopped preaching and a hush the church did fill
And then a great white dove from up above landed on the window sill
And the dove flew down beside him and a fork appeared right in his hand
And with everybody watching the preacher ate that bird right there and then
(chorus)
And the moral of this story, children it is plain but true
God knows if a preacher preaches long enough even he'll get hungry too
And he'll sing
(chorus)
credits
from Savoy Live,
track released October 2, 2011
Written by Lyle Lovett
Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling teams up with guitarist Charlie Hunter and guest drummer Nate Smith for a playful EP of six dynamic covers. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2023