Hymns vs Choruses

[MrJim]

Hymns vs. Choruses

Hymns vs. Choruses

An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

"Well," said the farmer, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."

"Praise choruses?" said his wife. "What are those?"

"Oh, they're OK. They are sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.

"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.

The farmer said, "Well, it's like this - If I were to say to you "Martha, the cows are in the corn"' - well, that would be a hymn. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:

Martha, Martha, Martha,
Oh Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows
the white cows,
the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS
are in the corn,
are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn,
the CORN, CORN, CORN.

Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well, that would be a praise chorus."

The next weekend, his nephew, a young, new Christian from the city came to visit and attended the local church of the small town. He went home and his mother asked him how it was.

"Well," said the young man, "it was good. They did something different however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."

"Hymns?" asked his mother. "What are those?"

"Oh, they're OK. They are sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.

"Well, what's the difference?" asked his mother.

The young man said, "Well, it's like this - If I were to say to you 'Martha, the cows are in the corn' - well, that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.

For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense
Hearkenest they in God's sun or His rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.

Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.

So look to the bright shining day by and by
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn
Where no vicious animals make my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.'

Then if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.

 

[Cris413]

That is hysterical!

Praise God...whether hymns or choruses...it's all sweet to God's ear when sung with a praising heart of worship!

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Just my probably rather unusual preference: traditional hymns performed in hard rock to heavy metal style. The best example I can think of is Twisted Sister's version of 'O Come All Ye Faithful', except that's a Christmas carol. To my thinking, 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' is just begging for some power chords. Same for 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing'. My church's P&W band isn't quite there, but their version is respectable enough.

 

[drstevej]

Try Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan's Island.

 

[MrJim]

Try Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan's Island.

hey it does work..

 

[Cris413]

Thanks you guys....now I have the theme to Gilligan's Island stuck in my head...at it will probably be there for days..

 

[desmalia]

Tears... in my eyes...
Thanks, Jim! Sending that to my pastor.

And Steve... My husband is singing Amazing Grace to that tune now. I think you've ruined it! lol

 

[ReformedCofE]

Chorus' contain little truth generally and are very self centred. Self is often either the subject or the object of the chorus, mainly both, whereas in hymns God is nearly always both subject and object or at least one definitely. Hymns are more solid and teach a lot more truth. Chorus' tend to be a concession to the world or to ignorance or to lack of musical ability.

 

[MrJim]

Chorus' contain little truth generally and are very self centred. Self is often either the subject or the object of the chorus, mainly both, whereas in hymns God is nearly always both subject and object or at least one definitely. Hymns are more solid and teach a lot more truth. Chorus' tend to be a concession to the world or to ignorance or to lack of musical ability.

Just a lighthearted thread here

 

[WannaWitness]

I actually like both. Of course, we should never get rid of the classic hymns, but I see nothing wrong with good P&W, either (whether choruses or some of the longer ones, like "Open the Eyes of My Heart").

Try Amazing Grace to the tune of Gilligan's Island.

Yes, it works. Kinda eerie... but in a good way!

 

[Zecryphon]

Just my probably rather unusual preference: traditional hymns performed in hard rock to heavy metal style. The best example I can think of is Twisted Sister's version of 'O Come All Ye Faithful', except that's a Christmas carol. To my thinking, 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' is just begging for some power chords. Same for 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing'. My church's P&W band isn't quite there, but their version is respectable enough.

It's really odd to me that Twisted Sister would do that considering Dee Snider is Jewish.

 

[MrJim]

It's really odd to me that Twisted Sister would do that considering Dee Snider is Jewish.

gotta make a livin'...

 

[Zecryphon]

gotta make a livin'...

There's other ways to do that. For instance, he had that movie Strangeland and he makes semi-regular appearances on that IFC show Z Rock. Plus Dee really doesn't need to work ever again, but he still does reunion concerts and stuff like that.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

It's really odd to me that Twisted Sister would do that considering Dee Snider is Jewish.

They made a whole Christmas album, and mostly I like it. Why they did it, I don't know.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

that was so funny!!!!!

 

[Cris413]

Who also has a Christmas album which includes "Silent Night"

~tee hee~

 

[Shahzam]

Oh, you people are hilarious! I couldn't go just say something -- I had to sing it! We had a good laugh. Thank you!

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Hymns vs. Choruses

You get my "Best Post of the Week" award