Lyle Lovett
Church
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band Live in Texas
(1999)

79 comments:lyrics:add your comment
Cynaera
Jun 14, 2011 - 15:46
Can't vouch for the accuracy, but this is the gist of what's going on in the song:

I went to church last Sunday
So I could sing and pray
But something quite unusual
Happened on that day

Now church it started right on time
Just like it does without a doubt
And everything was all just fine
Except when it came time to let us out

You know the preacher he kept preaching
He told us I have one more thing to say
Children before you think of leaving
You better think about the Judgment Day

Now everyone got nervous
Because everyone was hungry too
And everyone was wondering
What was the next thing he would do

And the preacher he kept preaching
He said now I'll remind you if I may
You all better pay attention
Or I might decide to preach all day

And now everyone was getting so hungry
That the old ones started feeling ill
And the weak ones started passing out
And the young ones they could not sit still

And the preacher's voice rose higher
So I snuck up on the balcony
And I crept into the choir
And I begged them brothers, sisters, help me please

I said when I give you a signal
I said when I raise up my hand
Won't you please join with me together
And praise the Lord I have a plan

And the preacher he kept preaching
Long is the struggle, hard the fight
And I prayed, Father please forgive me
And then I stood up and with all my might
I sang

To the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat
We've got some beans and some good cornbread
And I listened to what the preacher said
Now it's to the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat

Yes and I did give a signal
Yes and I raised up my hands
And then joined with me the choir
Yes every woman, child, and man
They sang

To the Lord let praised be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat
We've got some beans and some good cornbread
And I've listened to what the preacher said
Now it's to the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat

And the preacher he stopped preaching
And a hush the church did fill
And then a great white dove from up above
Landed on the window sill

And the dove flew down beside him
And a fork appeared right in his hand
And with everybody watching
The preacher ate that bird right there and then

And now everyone got really nervous
And the preacher he did start to glow
And as we watched in disbelief
These were the words he spoke

He said now Mama's in the kitchen
And she's been there all day
And I know she's cooking something good
So let's bow our heads and pray
And he sang

To the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat
We've got some beans and some good cornbread
Now listen to what the preacher said
He said to the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat

And the moral of this story
Children it is plain but true
God knows if a preacher preaches long enough
Even he'll get hungry too
And he'll sing

To the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat
We've got some beans and some good cornbread
Now listen to what the preacher said
He said to the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat





jmsmy
Jun 14, 2011 - 15:40
That church is 2 miles from here - Klein, Texas


ziggytrix
Apr 12, 2011 - 10:48
so funny to hear this while hungry and working to beat a deadline! :(


martinc
Apr 12, 2011 - 10:47
He puts on a great live show.


efaulkjr
Feb 08, 2011 - 14:39
Not my favorite song from this live album (that would be "If I Had a Boat")...but...I did get to see Lyle and his large band in San Antonio shortly after this album was recorded. Fantastic!


rjewyo
Feb 08, 2011 - 14:26
Lord, we know without a doubt you'll bless this food, as we pig out! {#Hungry}



Cynaera
Nov 06, 2010 - 00:14
I always love this song - church sermons are long and usually boring. I like to think he's singing from the viewpoint of a kid. Time to pray, now let's go eat.

Dunno about anyone else, but back in the day, I attended a few pretty brutal and long sermons, and before noon, my stomach was growling. And we were never offered food. Not even that wafer or the grape juice that apparently was supposed to fool God into thinking it was wine.

I love Lovett's take on this. I sorta love my own take on it better, but then, I'm my own excuse for being. {#Lol}

Guh - two weeks past my bedtime, but since I'm not working, I have no schedule, so any hour is the right hour for anything....


copymonkey
Oct 05, 2010 - 09:26
leathepea wrote:


WTF! He's singing about being hungry in church.......who cares.


Here's a few words you might look up leathepea: symbolism, metaphor, allegory, sarcasm, and satire. One or more of them apply to most anything Lyle writes. And Randy Newman, and Bob Dylan, and John Lennon, and....ummmm. Do you think EVERY song is literal?


sickels
Oct 05, 2010 - 09:26
just don't like it, I think the little puking {#Puke} guy says it all



WonderLizard
Oct 05, 2010 - 09:22
a_genuine_find wrote:
To each his/her own, enjoy it, this song sure is long

Evidently, you've never done Baptist... {#Lol}



nerakdon
Oct 05, 2010 - 09:21
Lol — apparently even God knows how to filibuster.


a_genuine_find
Sep 03, 2010 - 09:16
MsfStl wrote:
@ a_genuine_find ...you suck....this song is a great song to just crank on a good stereo system, seriously! It has so much range, depth. texture and movement. Lyle paints colors with his music. If you don't care for it, that is fine, to each his own, but your attitude could use a little church! Your negativity and anyone else's, casts a pall similar to walking on the beach and blindly stepping on an oil tar ball from BP's massive spill. It just dirties the experience. Perhaps, you should go to a local Kaffe house grab some "kind" to ease your sickness. Good day.


a_genuine_find wrote:
michaelgmitchell
Sep 03, 2010 - 09:16
themotion wrote:

I'm not a huge fan ... but 'boring'? Are you hearing all that is going on in this song?

'Sactly.


michaelgmitchell
Sep 03, 2010 - 09:15
jenntenn wrote:
I'd travel 100 miles to watch Lyle read a phone book. Saw him the night he married Julia. Now THAT was a wonderful concert.
Rachoh
Aug 02, 2010 - 09:15
Beans & Cornbread! Beans & Cornbread!

http://www.comedycentral.com/tosh.0/2010/07/29/web-redemption-worst-comedian-ever/



MsfStl
Jul 01, 2010 - 12:19
@ a_genuine_find ...you suck....this song is a great song to just crank on a good stereo system, seriously! It has so much range, depth. texture and movement. Lyle paints colors with his music. If you don't care for it, that is fine, to each his own, but your attitude could use a little church! Your negativity and anyone else's, casts a pall similar to walking on the beach and blindly stepping on an oil tar ball from BP's massive spill. It just dirties the experience. Perhaps, you should go to a local Kaffe house grab some "kind" to ease your sickness. Good day.


a_genuine_find wrote:
This SUCKS





anabel
Jul 01, 2010 - 12:07
mmm, cornbread!


ScottFromWyoming
Jul 01, 2010 - 12:06
Just a little too fast.



cc_rider
Jul 01, 2010 - 12:06
Pyro wrote:
Ani DeFranco opened for Lyle and his large band when I caught the tour. FUN concert!! And Francine Reid singing "gospel" on tour was unbelievable!

I've seen him a few times. Keb Mo opened for him once, he was great. Francine Reed was kickin' it out both pants legs too.

$.25 to maryte



Cynaera
May 30, 2010 - 16:12
Lyle Lovett is rather amazing. One needs to listen closely to his lyrics, because his music is misleadingly simple sometimes. I love his stuff. My dad once said, "He's ugly as a wet mud fence plastered with frogs." Kinda true, but get past his looks and you'll hear brilliance. {#Yes}


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