Changing Song Lyrics

[David / Amicus]

We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.

But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".

And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".

Rather odd change I thought.

[Jeff]

Post by David / Amicus
We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.
But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".
And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".
Rather odd change I thought.

After doing a google search, I can see why he may have done it.

"In the meadow we can build a snowman,
then pretend that he is Parson Brown.
He'll say 'Are You Married?'
We'll say 'No man, but you can do the job when you're in town!"

Being that a Floridan orange grower was the only well-known person by
the name of "Parson Brown" at the time the song was composed, one can
assume that "Parson" is used as a title, instead of a first name. In
the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as a
Protestant minister) often travelled among small rural towns to
perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not
have a local minister of their faith. Therefore, the children are most
likely pretending that their snowman is a Parson with the surname
"Brown," which would be visiting the town again in the future.

source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=3D20061218121419AAzcU7X

Jeff

[JS]

Actually it is just alternative - not exclusive to Donny Osmond - many
artiists use this variation

Post by David / Amicus
We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.
But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".
And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".
Rather odd change I thought.

[Nathan]

Post by David / Amicus
We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.
But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".
And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".
Rather odd change I thought.

Everyone is wrong about this. The song is "Winter Wonderland",
and both sentences are part of the actual lyrics. The first time it's
"Parson Brown", and "circus clown" the second time.

Has absolutely nothing to do with religion; you guys just don't
know the song.

[D***@ndersnat.ch]

Post by Nathan

Post by David / Amicus
We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.
But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".
And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".
Rather odd change I thought.

Everyone is wrong about this. The song is "Winter Wonderland",
and both sentences are part of the actual lyrics. The first time it's
"Parson Brown", and "circus clown" the second time.
Has absolutely nothing to do with religion; you guys just don't
know the song.

I heard that song on the Muzak system at work today, with the "circus
clown" lyrics, sung by Annie Lennox. Somehow I don't think she's
singing it that way because of LDS influence.

Bill

| No one is exempt from the call to find common ground.
__o | -- Barak Obama
`\(, | A dictatorship would be a lot easier.
(_)/ (_) | --George W. Bush

[h***@juno.com]

Post by David / Amicus
We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.
But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".

(Sounds more like "Walking in a Winter Wonder Land" rather than
"Frosty")

Post by David / Amicus
And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".

I don't know if I've heard his rendition (I seldom pay attention to
who's singing) but I suspect you only heard the last verse. In the
original there are a couple of verses you may be confusing:

"we'll pretend that he is Parson Brown,
he'll say are you married, we'll say 'no mam.
but you can do the job when you're in town."

Another verse (the last I think) is:

"we'll pretend that he's a circus clown
we'll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman
until the other kiddies knock him down."

(wording from my memory and may not be exact.)

[sjohns]

To: Amicus

From Newsgroup: soc.religion.mormon
We've discussed here before how the LDS have changed hymn lyrics to fit
their theology.
But the other day on the radio I heard an old Christmas song by a young
Donny Osmond "Frosty the Snowman".
And instead of "We'll pretend he's Parson Brown" he sang "We'll pretend
he's a circus clown".
Rather odd change I thought.
--- Synchronet 3.14a-Win32 NewsLink 1.85

That's because no one knows who Parson Brown is.
--- Synchronet 3.14a-Win32 NewsLink 1.85
www.ohiofreenet.org - telnet://tek1systems.com
.