Daddy Didn't Get It

Zoomed with my college friend Ron, musical and lyrical genius, before my August 2022 MRI. We rambled across the facts that his father was a Methodist minister, as is my niece's husband, who is also a fine guitarist for traditional music. When I had to lay 40 very uncomfortable minutes on that MRI table, hoping that the news would be good, I needed something to focus my mind on - and tried to write lyrics about the guitar-loving son of a Methodist minister. With no success at all. On hearing this, Ron came up with five verses of hilarious lyrics. I thought for fun, I'd try the opening verse in various variations: blues, punk, funk. Instead I tried to channel Tennessee Ernie Ford and Sixteen Tons, filled in a few choruses and backing vocals and did this vocal version for fun. Hope it's fun for someone and doesn't put Ron to shame!

Click here for audio only:

Daddy Didn't Get It

My daddy was a preacher and he and tried and tried
To keep me connected to the Methodist side.
I was down-till I stumbled on the rock 'n roll:
Straight from the devil-and it saved my soul.

I went to church on Sunday and up stood the choir,
But the twang of a Telly was taking me higher.
Daddy tried to bring me to the biblical age
But he missed the second coming of the lord: Jimmy Page.

(Missed the turn of the page)

Yakking in the pulpit-he does it for a job.
But I needed a religion with a volume knob-
I can eat from the table and drink from the cup,
But I'll turn the sermon down and the punk rock up.

Chorus 1:
Daddy didn't get it and he never will
He sent me to sleep upon a dunghill
Daddy didn't get it and I paid the toll
Cause I sold my soul to rock'n'roll

Background singers:
Sold his soul to rock'n'roll
Gonna spend eternity paying the toll
Sold his soul for a guitar and a pick
A couple of chords and a pentatonic lick

We had a prayer meeting and I testified.
I told him how my spirit got satisfied
When the host of angels played screaming leads
And the power chords heralding their righteous deeds.

(Sold my soul - waa-aaa.  Sold my soul to rock'n'roll and I got a good price.  Mmmm.)

But Dad didn't listen or acknowledge the facts:
The Truth of the Fender and the Marshall Stacks.
So shall it be, but the rock beat's a'revvin'
And when I'm done here I'm goin' straight to heaven.

Chorus 2:
Sold my soul to rock'n'roll and I got a good price
I'd do it again but it won't work twice
Daddy didn't get it, no he never did
Why he became the dad of a rock'n'roll kid

(Became the dad of a rock'n'roll kid)