{"id":23146,"date":"2024-01-12T11:30:06","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T11:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=23146"},"modified":"2024-01-12T19:43:21","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T19:43:21","slug":"parson-and-the-clerk-the","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/parson-and-the-clerk-the\/","title":{"rendered":"Parson and the clerk, The"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
First Published<\/td>1881<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Writer\/composer<\/td>Geoffrey Thorn (Charles Townley)<\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>RN1154<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Music Hall Performers<\/strong><\/td>GH MacDermott<\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Tanner, Phil ; Wales : Glamorganshire : Gower 1937
Phillips, Mrs. M. ; England : Surrey : Whyteleafe 1952
Tritton, Duke \/ Carlin, Jame (tune) Australia : New South Wales ; 1955
Pardon, Walter England : Norfolk : Knapton 1978
Modern performances<\/strong>
Tony Rose, Roy Harris<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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THE PARSON AND THE CLERK \nSung with immense success by GH MacDermott. Written and composed by Geoffrey Thorn.(Charles Townley)\n\nA parson preach'd to his flock one day \nOn the sins of the human race \nAnd the clerk aloud 'Amen' did say With the solemnest tones and face; \nBut that pious clerk on the quiet though \nWould venture a bit of remark, \n'All sin is sweet', said the parson, \n'Then I'm for sin', said the clerk, \n'Amen. Yes, sin is for me', said the clerk. \nChorus<\/em>: Amen.\n\n'Oh never covet thy neighbour's goods', \nSo the parson said, 'nor his maid. \nFor to rob a man of all that's his \nWhy a fellow should be afraid; \nAnd, oh covet ye not, thou man of sin, \nI pray you this matter to mark, \nThy neighbour's wife', said the parson. \n'The maid for me', said the clerk, 'Amen. \nThe slavey for me', said the clerk. \n\n'As Christian men', said the parson, 'you \nShould ever be humble and meek, \nAnd you should not strike a sinful man \nWhen he landeth you on the cheek; \nNay, turn my friends to that erring one, \nYea, turn to that sinner so dark,\nThe other cheek', said the parson. \n'I'd break his nose', said the clerk. 'Amen. \nLand him at once,' said the clerk. \n\n'Oh never sigh for that dross call'd gold, \nFor it's blest is the man that's poor, \nYou never should seek the fishes, my friends, \nAnd should cast ye the loaves from the door, \nOh I grieve to think it's my fate to drive \nA carriage and pair in the park, \nWith a thousand a year', said the parson. \n'Then give it to me', said the clerk, 'Amen. \nNo pride about me', said the clerk. \n\n'The girls are awfully frivolous', \nThe parson he said with a groan, \nAnd the boys, too, of the Sunday school \nWon't let the young hussies alone; \nI have watched them grin behind their books, \nAnd I've seen those boys for a lark, \nKissing the girls', said the parson. \n'I've done it myself', said the clerk. 'Amen. \nThey're fond of it, too,' said the clerk. \n\n'And now my sermon, friends, is done, \nAnd I bid you go work and pray. \nDon't you do as your parson does, But do as your parsons say; \nBut ere you depart to your worldly cares \nI'll venture this thing to remark: \nNever drink', said the parson. \n'I'm awfully dry', said the clerk. 'Amen. \nI'm off for a drop', said the clerk.\n\n<\/pre>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A song performed by traditional singer Phil Tanner for Maud Karpeles in 1949  – and popularised through subsequent broadcasts and recordings. It was later also collected from the singing of Walter Pardon. Its possible that it survived independently in Australia, as it appears in the repertoire of Australian folklorist Warren Fahey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the early 1980s it was discovered that it was originally written for the Halls. The song was written by Geoffrey Thorn, whose brief biography appears below . It was sung in the halls by the prominent early Music Hall star GH MacDermott<\/a> . It does not appear in very many surviving broadsides or in songsters, perhaps because the chorus was on the edge of what was acceptable at the time.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Contemporary commentators were not entirely convinced that the “Amen” chorus was appropriate. Initially The Era <\/em>skirted round the issue by saying that the chorus was “startling” but describing an enthusiastic response from the audience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Mr MacDermott’s last contribution to the programme was the latest and funniest thing from the ready  pen of Mr Geoffrey Thorn. It is called, we believe, “The Parson and the Clerk,” and is amusingly illustrative of the little differences of opinion that existed between the two. The audience have a chance of joining in this with a response of a rather startling order, and of that chance they seem to make the most. <\/p>\n‘London Pavillion’, The Era  02 July 1881<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Other reports also suggest that audiences were particularly enthusiastic about the chorus. Music Hall owners and managers were less enthusiastic and some, like The Pavilion <\/em> banned the song (Magnet (London) 8 May 1882<\/a>). MacDermott continued to sing  it, much to the disapproval of The Daily Telegraph<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Mr. McDermott sings his songs so well that it is a pity, perhaps, he was not a little more careful in the selection of them when the condition of Christmas and the theatres are remembered. …. the \u201cParson and the Clerk,\u201d with its’ refrain of a chanted Amen,\u201d might well be omitted, not that any harm is intended, but for fear of giving unnecessary offence to such as consider that these are subjects best avoided in theatres.<\/p>\n‘Surrey’ Daily Telegraph & Courier  26 Dec 1881<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The song was popular amongst 19th-century amateur performers at Penny Readings, Smoking Concerts and other similar events. The earliest report I have found of an amateur performance was on 3 Dec 1881<\/a>, regarding a performance at the annual dinner of the The Granville Cricket Club. There are regular reports of amateur performances into the early 20th century, sometimes as a duet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charles Townley (1843-1905)<\/strong> was a journalist and theatrical writer active in London and in particular Islington between the 1860s and his death. He was a dramatic critic for The Observer<\/em> under his own name but wrote pantomimes, songs and other theatrical pieces using the pseudonym Geoffrey Thorn. He wrote many songs for GH MacDermott and also for the Mohawk Minstrels. Very few seem to have passed into traditional singing, the only one I have found thus far is this one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Tony Rose sings it on his 1970 album Young Hunting:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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