The Song
John Greaves Lyrics
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To the place where Louie dwells
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singing casts it's spell
Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
Baa, baa, baa
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa
Gentleman songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Lord have mercy on such as we
Baa, baa, baa
The lyrics to John Greaves's song The Song reflect on the sentimentality and camaraderie of a gathering at a beloved bar. The song begins with a shoutout to Mory's, a bar in New Haven known for its ties to Yale University. From there, the Whiffenpoofs, an a cappella group from Yale, are introduced. Their "magic" singing enchants the listeners and makes them forget their troubles. The song continues with the Whiffenpoofs performing popular songs, like "Shall I Wasting," and "Mavourneen," to the pleasure of all present. Lastly, there is a shift in perspective, and the singers start referring to themselves as "lost" and "black sheep" who are "doomed" for eternity. Despite their self-deprecating tone, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the mention of their "Lord" having mercy on them.
The song is a tribute to the community and companionship established in bars, which can provide an escape from the stresses of everyday life. It is the singing that transforms the people's moods and brings them together. The lyrics underscore the universality of bar culture and suggest that despite any social status, people can all come together through the power of music. Additionally, the song is a nod to traditional male bonding rituals, such as fraternity culture or bar-going, which often revolve around drinking and singing.
Line by Line Meaning
To the tables down at Mory's
Let's go to Mory's and enjoy a good meal.
To the place where Louie dwells
Let's visit Louie at his place.
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Let's go to our favorite bar at the Temple.
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
Let's sing with the Whiffenpoofs and raise our glasses.
And the magic of their singing casts it's spell
The Whiffenpoofs singing is so enchanting that it casts a spell over us.
Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
Their singing of our beloved songs is truly magical.
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
They sing 'Shall I Wasting', 'Mavourneen', and other songs we love.
We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last
We'll sing for Louie as long as we live and are able.
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
But eventually we'll die and be forgotten like everyone else.
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
We're like lost and helpless little lambs.
Baa, baa, baa
Just like lambs.
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
We're like black sheep who have gone off course.
Gentleman songsters off on a spree
We're gentleman who love to sing and have fun.
Doomed from here to eternity
We're destined to enjoy singing forever.
Lord have mercy on such as we
We hope that God will have mercy on us.
Baa, baa, baa
Just like helpless little lambs.
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