Listening to Mid West Radio today, someone requested a song by Max Boyce. I had never heard for him but Gerry Glennon found a version of him singing a song I knew and it led me to wonder about him so I checked him out on Spotify. He’s quite funny and seems to base much of his humour around Welsh Rugby. I listened to a few tracks and then came across this one … “Ten Thousand Instant Christians”. He’s wondering about the great reputation Welsh supporters have as choir singers but laments a shut down church he noticed when leaving one of the games in Cardiff. Its windows were broken, the door locked, the shutters down and a “For Sale” sign on display. – “Hymns of yesterday, only half-remembered. I wonder what He’ll say” …
When He sees the Hope and Anchor
Where we sang before the game
Where ‘Cwm Rhondda’ and ‘Delilah’
First sounded both the same
The bar was filled with singing
Songs came on a tray
Saturday was Sunday
I wonder what He’ll sayWhat will He say?
What will He say?
I wonder, I wonder what He’ll say?When He sees the North Enclosure
With its belly full of ale
And sees that male voice flagon
Sing to the twisted barrier rail
‘Cwm Rhondda’ and ‘Penmachno’
Hymns of yesterday
Only half remembered
I wonder what He’ll sayWhat will He say?
What will He say?
I wonder, I wonder what He’ll say?When He sees those touch-line tenors
With their copies made of sand
Ten Thousand Instant Christians
And the Glynneath Silver Band
‘C’mon man, ref, for Christ’s sake
That ball was still in play’
Ten Thousand Instant Christians
I wonder what He’ll sayWhat will He say?
What will He say?
I wonder, I wonder what He’ll say?When He sees that empty chapel
With its locked and shuttered door
And sees that dusty Bible
Cobweb covered floors
The numbers slowly dwindling
Much fewer now each day
Calfaria now a bingo hall
I wonder what He’ll sayWhat will He say?
What will He say?
I wonder, I wonder what He’ll say?I wonder.
I am glad I heard Gerry Glennon today and glad someone requested a song by Max Boyce. Gave me something to think about and something I felt I should share!
and I think this is the one Gerry Glennon played …
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