I pulled out the Black and Decker electric mower to start my first mowing of the day. I had my iPod ready and started through a very diverse string of music. About half way through the back yard, I heard a good old song that I haven't heard in years: Ray Stevens' "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival."
If you haven't heard it, it is worth a listen. Quirky Ray Stevens is the author of more serious songs like "Everything is Beautiful" and "Misty". But, he has also penned the greats, "The Streak", "Ahab the Arab", "It's Me Again, Margaret", and "Gitarzan".
It's worth the listen because it tells the story of how a young boy catches a squirrel, takes him to church, and then allows him to get out of the box. The sleepy little town's church is turned upside down as the squirrel wrecks havoc on the parishioners.
He moves from Harv Newman, who falls to his knees pleading for mercy, to Bertha "Better Than You" in the Amen Pew, who began to confess to things that would make a sailor blush!
In the end, the narrow-minded church goers seemed to find God again and were re-baptized on the spot!
How many of us need a wiggling, jiggling in our jockey's to get us to decide that we are okay with something? I don't know if I'd like a squirrel messing around with my junk, but I often have to stop and think about how something affects me AND others. How I can learn a lesson from something that seems insignificant. And, how I need to place myself in the shoes of someone else, especially if I'm sitting in the "Amen Pew" of the "First Self-Righteous Church?"
After you've listened to this song, I suggest you go to a few of the others. They are corny (oh, man, are they corny!), but they are fun and light hearted.
Ray Stevens' Mississippi Squirrel Revival Video (YouTube)
Lyrics: The Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens
Well when I was a kid I would take a trip
Every Summer down to "Mississipp," to visitMy Granny and 'er "Auntie Belluam World."I'd run barefooted all-day long, climbing Trees free as a song; One day I happened To catch myself a squirrel. Well I stuffed him down In an old shoe box, and punched a couple Holes in the top; When Sunday came I snuck em' In the Church. I sittin' way back on the veryLast pew showin em' to my good buddy Hugh, When that squirrel got loose and went totallyBuzzerk.Well what happened next is hard to tell; Some thought it was Heaven others thoughtIt was Hell, but the fact that something was Among was plain to see.As the choir sang " I Surrender All", the Squirrel ran up Harv Newman's coveralls, and Harv leaped to his feet and said something's got A hold on me yeeeooow! CHORUSThe day the squirrel went buzzerk in the First Self-Righteous Church in that sleepy little Town of Pascagoula. It was a fight for survival That broke out in revival. They were jumpin' pewsAnd shoutin' "Hallelujah".VERSE 2Well Harv hit the aisles dancin' and screamin'.Some thought he had Religion others thoughtHe had a demon, and Harv thought he had a Weed-eater loose in his fruit-of-the-looms.He fell to his knees to plead and beg, and the Squirrel ran out of his britchy-leg; unobserved To the otherside of the room.All the way down to the AMEN pew, where sat "Sister Bertha Better-than-You", who had been Watching all of the commotion with sufistic glee.But shoot, you should have seen the look in her eyes When that squirrel jumped her garders and crossed her Thighs. And she jumped to her feet and said, "Lord have mercy on me!"As the squirrel made laps inside her dress, She began to cry and then to confessTo sins that would make a sailor blush with shame.
She told of gossip and church disention, But the thing that got the most attentionIs when she talked about her love lifeThen she started naming names!
The day the squirrel went berserk.In the First Self-Righteous ChurchOf that sleepy little town of Pascagoula.It was a fight for survival, That broke out in revival.They were jumpin pews and shouting Halelujah!
Well seven deacons and the pastor got savedAnd 25, 000 dollars got raised.And 50 volunteered for missions in the CongoOn the spot.And even without and invitaionThere were at least 500 rededications.And we ALL got rebaptised whether we needed it or not.
Well you've heard the Bible stories I guessOf how he parted the waters for Moses to pass.All th miracles God has brought to this l' world.But the one I'll remember to my dyin dayIs how he put that church back on the narrow wayWith a half crazed Mississippi Squirrel
The day the squirrel went berserk.In the First Self-Righteous ChurchOf that sleepy little town of Pascagoula.It was a fight for survival, That broke out in revival.They were jumpin pews and shouting Halelujah!
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