...addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus....
Ephesians 5:19&20

Tune: St Denio
Metre: 11 11 11 11

Immoral, impossible, God only knows
how tenors and basses, sopranos, altos
at service on Sunday are rarely the same
as those who on Thursday to choir practice came.

Unready, unable to sight-read the notes,
nor counting, nor blending, they tighten their throats.
The descant, so piercing, is soaring above
the melody only a mother could love.

They have a director; but no one knows why,
no one in the choir deigns to turn her an eye.
It's clear by her waving, she wants them to look,
but each of them stands with her nose in the book.

Despite the offences, the music rings out.
The folks in the pews are enraptured, no doubt.
Their faces are blissful, their thoughts are so deep;
but it is no wonder, for they are asleep.