> Tony Rose > Songs > The Parson and the Clerk

The Parson and the Clerk

[ Roud 1154 / Song Subject MAS507 ; Ballad Index K235 ; Mudcat 102294 ; Geoffrey Thorn]

The first well-known version of this song about sins is Phil Tanner’s recording of The Parson and the Clerk, made on 22 April 1949 at Penmaen, that was included on the anthology Songs of Animals and Other Marvels (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 10; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1970), in 1968 on his eponymous EFDSS album, Phil Tanner, and in 2003 on his Veteran anthology CD The Gower Nightingale. Roy Palmer noted:

For many years it was thought that Phil Tanner’s version of this song, first recorded in 1949, was unique. In 1979, though, Mike Yates recorded Walter Pardon (1914-96) of Norfolk singing it. Then a Mrs. Brenda Bentall of Tonbridge, Kent, wrote to me (Roy Palmer) in 1982 to say that not only did she remember a verse of the song which she learned before 1934 but that she had a printed copy. This turned out to be an item of sheet music “sung with immense success” by G. H. Macdermott (1845-1901), and written and composed by Geoffrey Thorn (pseudonym of Charles Townley, 1843-1905) which Hopwood & Crew of London published in 1882. Tanner would have been twenty when it came out. His memorable performance, almost lapsing into speech at times, is full of infectious gusto.

Tony Rose recorded The Parson and the Clerk in 1970 for his first album, Young Hunting. He noted:

The Parson and the Clerk comes from traditional singer Phil Tanner of Gower, South Wales. In a way the song has something in common with Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford. Again the hypocrisy of the clergy is exposed—to the obvious relief of the clerk, and from an objective point of view, there is little doubt as to which of the characters appears in the more favourable light.

Walter Pardon sang The Parson and the Clerk in a recording made by Mike Yates on 25 June 1978. It was published in 1983 on his Home-Made Music album of songs and music from Knapton in Norfolk, Bright Golden Store and in 2000 on his Musical Traditions anthology Put a Bit of Powder on It, Father. Mike Yates noted on the first album:

Surprisingly, this is only the second time that this delightfully humorous song has been collected. It had previously been sung by Phil Tanner of Gower (BBC recording reissued on LP1005, EFDSS, 1968), but it was only recently that Roy Palmer managed to trace it to a song sheet published in 1882. It was written and composed by Geoffrey Thorn, and “sung with immense success” by G.H. MacDermott (See Folk Music Journal 1982. Vol. 4 Number 3, pp 276-79).

And Roy Harris sang The Parson and the Clerk on the Fellside Recordings anthology Flash Company.

Lyrics

Phil Tanner sings The Parson and the Clerk

A parson preached to his flock one day, on the sins of the human race.
And the clerk, “Amen,” aloud did say, with the solemnest tone and face.
And this pious clerk, on the quiet, though would venture a bit of remark.
“Oh sin is sweet,” said the parson. “Then sin for me,” said the clerk.
Amen
“Then sin for me,” said the clerk.

“Oh never covet thy neighbour’s goods,” the parson he said, “nor his maid,
To rob a man of that what’s his, why a fellow should be afraid.
Nor covet ye not no man of sin, I would venture this better to mark,
Thy neighbour’s wife,” said the parson. “The slavey for me,” said the clerk.
Amen
“The slavey for me,” said the clerk.

“Oh never sigh for that dross called gold, for blessed in the man that is poor,
Nor cast ye the loaves, nor fishes from the poor.
For, I grieve to say, it is my fate to drive a carriage-and-pair in the park,
With a thousand a year,” said the parson. “Oh give it to me,” said the clerk.
Amen
“There’s no pride about me,” said the clerk.

“My Christian friends and brethren, you should ever be humble and meek,
And never strike a sinful man, when he strike you one on the cheek.
But turn, my friends, to the erring one, Yes, turn to the sinner so dark.
Thy other cheek,” said the parson. “I’ll break his nose,” said the clerk.
Amen
“Yes, land him at once,” said the clerk.

“Oh the boys are awfully tribulous,” the parson he said with a groan.
“The boys too oft their Sunday school, won’t let the young hussies alone,
I’ve watched them grin behind their books, and I’ve seen the boys at their lark,
They were kissing the girls,” said the parson. “I’ve done it myself,” said the clerk.
Amen
“And they’re fond of it too,” said the clerk.

“Well now, my sermon, friends, is done, I bid you go work and pray.
And don’t do all your parson does, but do as your passion say.
And be ready to part of all worldly care, I venture this modest remark.
Never drink,” said the parson. “I’m awfully dry,” said the clerk.
Amen
“And I’m off for a wet,” said the clerk.

Tony Rose sings The Parson and the Clerk

Oh, a parson prayed to his flock one day, on the sins of the human race.
And the clerk, “Amen,” aloud did say, with the solemnest tone and face.
And this pious clerk, in the quiet though, did venture a bit of remark.
“All sin is sweet,” said the parson. “Then sin is for me,” said the clerk.
Amen
“Oh sin is for me,” said the clerk.

“And never covet thy neighbour’s goods,” this parson he said, “nor his maid.
Don’t rob a man of that what’s his, wherefore thou should be afraid.
And do covet ye not, thou man of sin, I venture this matter to mark,
Thy neighbour’s wife,” said the parson. “This lady for me,” said the clerk.
Amen
“Oh this lady for me,” said the clerk.

“And never sigh for that dross called gold, for blessed’s a man that is poor,
Nor cast ye the loaves nor the fishes from the poor.
For, I grieve to say, it is my fate to drive a carriage-and-pair in the park,
With a thousand a year,” said the parson. “Oh give it to me,” said the clerk.
Amen
“There’s no pride about me,” said the clerk.

My Christian friends and brethren, you should ever be humble and meek,
And never strike a sinful man, though he strike you one on the cheek.
But turn, my friends, to the erring one, yes, turn to the sinner so dark
Thy other cheek,” said the parson. “I’d break his nose,” said the clerk.
Amen
“Just land him at once,” said the clerk.

“Oh the boys are awfully tribulous,” the parson he says with a groan.
“And the boys too oft at Sunday school won’t let the young hussies alone.
And I’ve watched the boys behind their books, I’ve seen the boys their larks.
They’re kissing the girls,” said the parson. “I’ve done it myself,” said the clerk.
Amen
“And they’re fond of it too,” said the clerk.

Oh now, my sermon, friends, is done, and I bid you go watch and pray.
And don’t do as your parson does, but do as your parson say.
And ere I depart all worldly care, I venture this matter to mark.
“Never drink,” said the parson. “I’m awfully dry,” said the clerk.
Amen
“And I’m off for a wet,” said the clerk.
Amen

Walter Pardon sings The Parson and the Clerk

A Parson preached to his flock one day, on the sins of the human race
The Clerk was standing piously, with a solemn look on his face
The Clerk would venture now and then to give a big remark
“Sin is sweet,” said the Parson. “Then it’s sin for me,” said the Clerk,
“Amen, Amen - Then it’s sin for me,” said the Clerk, “Amen.”

“Oh never covet thy neighbour’s goods,” the Parson said “nor his maid.
To rob a man of what is his, a fellow should then be afraid.
Nor covet ye no man of sin, I venture this better to ’mark
Thy neighbour’s wife,” said the Parson. “The skivvy for me,” said the Clerk …

“Oh never scythe the dross called gold, for blest is the man that is poor
Nor cast you away the loaves of bread, nor the fishes away from the door
I grieve to say that I should drive in a carriage and pair in the park
And a thousand a year,” said the Parson. “Oh give it to me,” said the Clerk …

“My friends and Christian brethren, forever be humble and meek
And do not strike the sinful man when he smiteth you one on the cheek
But turn my friends, the erring one you stands the sinner so dark
Thy other cheek,” said the Parson. “I’ll land ’im one,” said the Clerk …

“The boys they are so troublesome,” the Parson said with a groan.
“And often in the Sunday School, they won’t leave the young hussies alone.
I’ve watched them grin behind their books, I’ve seen them at their larks
They were kissing the girls,” said the Parson. “The maid for me,” said the Clerk …

“And now my sermon’s ended, Friends, now all go to work and to pray
Don’t always do what your Parson does, but do what your Parson will say.
Before I leave you all, my friends, I’ll venture this better to ’mark
Never take strong drink,” said the Parson “A gallon for me,” said the Clerk …

Acknowledgements

The lyrics are from the Digital Tradition. The variations in Tony Rose’s actual singing were transcribed by me. I corrected Rose’s mondegreen in the last line, “Ah, you’re awfully wet,” to Phil Tanner’s more sensible version though. Thanks to Garry Gillard.