Parson Brown

[DaisyDeadhead]

....has been written out of "Winter Wonderland"--at least the retail versions I have heard. The song was written in 1934 and the original lyrics are:

Quote:In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Now the new versions say "And pretend that he's a circus clown". The old ones by Perry Como and Dinah Shore and all those people, remain the same, of course... but check out the new ones. LISTEN.

THAT MAKES ME MAD AND I AM NOT EVEN CHRISTIAN! Dammit, leave the song alone! As Henry Miller once famously asked a critic, are you trying to cut the balls off the English language? I'd like to ask these censors the same thing! ITS A CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY and they can't even leave in a reference to a PARSON?

ARRGHGGHHHHH! (you should imagine that as if Charlie Brown said it, if you please)

I am nostalgic for Parson Brown, not circus clowns. Yeesh!

Thanks for letting me vent.

I also hate the way they will use instrumental hymns, but not sung ones. Pay attention to that too. You hear "God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen" in a commercial, but only the instrumental melody, not the lyrics. So, Christians feel they have heard "Christmas music", but no one is "offended"--if you are offended, stay HOME and don't SHOP okay? And don't give any presents and do NOT participate!!!!

Growf!

[Darrell]

Actually, both sets of lyrics are in the original:

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

[amyrose5]

They probably did it because no one knows what a "parson" is anymore. Not kidding. Students asked me once during Christmas time when the choir was practicing the song.

And, you know, some people actually don't participate in Christmas or give gifts. So do they have to identify as such in order to be annoyed by the constant presence of Christmas?

I do participate. But I get sick of the overkill in public places and the mediocre round-the-clock Christmas music on the radio even before Thanksgiving. And the gross consumerism. And the people who pretend they aren't materialistic at all "and my family doesn't give gifts because we want to treasure real memories and not waste money, so we're all going to Florida for the week to spend time together at a resort". Because the day planner and package of socks I asked my parents for are not at all practical and certainly cost more than flying 15 people from the Midwest to Florida and paying for a resort during a holiday week.

[DaisyDeadhead]

(11-29-2011 05:32 PM)Darrell Wrote:  Actually, both sets of lyrics are in the original:

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Interesting, then what they are doing is only using one of those verses, sung twice. I listened and heard it twice, so I guess thats what happened.

The version by (sounds like?) Wilson Phillips or somebody? Only uses one of the verses, the second.

[DaisyDeadhead]

There is one retail station I had to listen to on my last job, that was abominable in every way. My co-worker referred to the stations as "shake your ass for Christmas" and/or "Spank me for Christmas"--mostly J-Lo-ish stuff. Ugh. Awful.

[FmrMarine]

(11-29-2011 05:39 PM)DaisyDeadhead Wrote:  There is one retail station I had to listen to on my last job, that was abominable in every way. My co-worker referred to the stations as "shake your ass for Christmas" and/or "Spank me for Christmas"--mostly J-Lo-ish stuff. Ugh. Awful.

I can think of no better way to celebrate any holiday than to watch J-Lo shake her ass.

[DaisyDeadhead]

(11-29-2011 05:43 PM)FmrMarine Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 05:39 PM)DaisyDeadhead Wrote:  There is one retail station I had to listen to on my last job, that was abominable in every way. My co-worker referred to the stations as "shake your ass for Christmas" and/or "Spank me for Christmas"--mostly J-Lo-ish stuff. Ugh. Awful.

I can think of no better way to celebrate any holiday than to watch J-Lo shake her ass.

Yes, yes, you and my husband and brother in law can get together and eat Kettle chips and watch James Bond and football and J-Lo for Christmas. Happy Holidaze!

[captain_solo]

I can no longer listen to this song without hearing the "Walking Round in Women's Underwear" version.

If you don't like the circus clown part, you definitely won't like the Parson being changed to Murphy Brown. Or maybe you will...

[Elijah Craig]

Why is a snowman fulfilling the part of a preacher husband?

[DaisyDeadhead]

(11-29-2011 06:30 PM)captain_solo Wrote:  I can no longer listen to this song without hearing the "Walking Round in Women's Underwear" version.

If you don't like the circus clown part, you definitely won't like the Parson being changed to Murphy Brown. Or maybe you will...

The old Catholic in me, resents changes of all kinds, unless its an iphone or black president or something farout like that. And I invariably get disenchanted after the novelty wears off anyway!