Nick Alexander here...
Ash Wednesday is early this year (February 6, 2008). With this comes the arrival of
Lent, one of the most solemn, most holy seasons in the Church Calendar. To me, this is an opportunity to truly stretch oneself towards holiness in ways they've never considered before: reading that classic devotional, attending (or trying to attend) daily mass, going to Stations of the Cross, adoration, tithing, and fasting.
For too often I've heard people try to inject their own apathy as a paltry joke: "You know what I'm giving up for Lent? Church." Yeah, I've never heard
that one before.
Instead, I wanted to craft a comedy song that explored all the nuances of this incredible season, while still tickled the funny bone. Considering that this song has been very strongly received (even becoming the top downloaded song of 2006 from
CatholicMusicNetwork means that it hit a chord. (Previously, I didn't want to do a parody of a song Weird Al had already written... but the opening lines to this song trumped that rightaway...)
Check out the
video appearance of this as well. Have a laugh about Lent, before it comes...
This Time of Forty Days
by Nick Alexander (Parody of "King of Pain" by The Police)
There's a little black spot on your head today
I guess it must mean today is Ash Wednesday
And we enter a time when we will give things up
For some it's so easy but for me it's rough
I hope I can last without it being a pain
On Friday's no meat, but at least fish is okay
We just got our throats blessed on the Feast of St. Blaise
And it starts right this week, this time of forty days.
There's a little black spot on your head today (Is my soul prepared?)
It's to remind us that from dust we came (Is my soul prepared?)
Guess I should read a good book, and watch the t.v. less (Is my soul prepared?)
Should I complete the Old Testament, or Prayer of Jabez? (Is my soul prepared?)
I hope I can last without it being a pain
On Friday's no meat, but at least fish is okay
I guess I should stop calling my sister bad names
And it starts right this week, this time of forty days.
When you fast don't act like all those Pharisees
Rumpled hair, bruises on your hands and knees
Instead wash yourself, put on a happy face
And on the Feast of St Joseph you can take a break...
Forty Days
Well, Jesus He fasted thru the wilderness (Is my soul prepared?)
With all the church offers, can we do no less? (Is my soul prepared?)
There's a little black spot on your head today
Is it dark, is it bold, or has it faded grey?
I hope I can last without it being a pain
On Friday's no meat, but at least fish is okay
When I've completed this Lent, don't want to be the same
As I am right this week, upon these forty days.
Forty days...
You'll always need forty days...
Copyright (c) Nick Alexander Music 2006
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