Whoops! It was John Henry Newman's birthday the other day, and I missed the opportunity to post this again. It can be sung to at least one version of John Henry, though things may have to be adjusted here and there. Here ya go:
When John Henry Newman was an Anglican
He went down to the Holy See
Said I wanna see the Pope 'cause I got a crazy hope
That they're gonna make a Catholic out of me, Lord, Lord,
They're gonna make a Catholic out of me.
When John Henry Newman was a young man
He wrote about a Kindly Light
He called it "Pillar of Cloud," and if you sing it real loud
It'll lead you through the gloomy night, Lord, Lord,
It'll lead you through the gloomy night.
John Henry Newman was at Oxford
He was a deacon and a curate too
He got to be a vicar but decided it was quicker
To scribble down a tract or two, Lord, Lord
To scribble down a tract or two.
John Henry Newman up at Oxford
At St. Mary's chapel on the side
He told them in a lecture that it was his conjecture
The middle way was fine and wide, Lord, Lord
The middle way was fine and wide.
John Henry Newman got in trouble
Reading monophysite lore
"This bit about "securus" -- it doesn't reassure us
I think I better think a little more, Lord, Lord,
I think I better think at Littlemore. "
John Henry Newman had a buddy
Father Ambrose, he liked Rome
They liked St. Philip Neri, so in the vale of Mary
They built themselves a home sweet home, Lord, Lord,
They built themselves a home sweet home.
John Henry Newman got converted
And it made him feel alive
But he lost a few subscribers the day he swam the Tiber
On 9 October '45, Lord, Lord,
On 9 October '45.
John Henry Newman bought a ticket
John Henry Newman went to Rome
But though he got ordained, he did not remain
He packed his bags and headed home, Lord, Lord,
He packed his bags and headed home.
John Henry Newman went to Oscott
To have a little toast and jam
And in a blaze of glory to build an Oratory
They later moved to Birmingham, Lord, Lord,
They later moved to Birmingham.
John Henry Newman took exception
To what he heard Kingsley say
Newman said "I showed ya ; I wrote an Apologia
And it's Pro Vita Sua all the way, Lord, Lord,
It's Pro Vita Sua all the way."
John Henry Newman got promoted
And they gave him a big red hat
They put it on his head, and everybody said,
"Mercy, will you look at that, Lord, Lord,
Mercy, will you look at that."
When John Henry Newman was an old man
He was a little on the quiet side.
He got a telegram from heaven on August eleven
And laid down his missal and he died, Lord, Lord,
He laid down his missal and he died.
John Henry Newman in his coffin
On compost did recline
He said "I have chosen, by completely decomposing,
To leave not a relic here to find, Lord, Lord,
I will leave not a relic here to find."
There. That was written by me some while ago -- September 20, 2010, I guess it was. Enjoy!
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