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Description
As you may know, I direct the Children's Choirs at our Presbyterian church. I wrote and directed a musical for the kids last spring, called "Scenes From A Hymnbook." We would put on a mini-drama which illustrated some aspect of the background of the song, and then we would perform the hymn.
One of the songs was Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Luther (1483-1546) translated the New Testament from Latin into German, while hiding from the authorities at the Wartburg Castle. Luther reported being oppressed by Satan and his demons while completing this work.
So I thought, "Let's have a scene where the devil tries to discourage Luther from his translating work." So I came up with this little ditty. I think it sounds a little bit like the theme song from "Little Shop Of Horrors."
The voice is mine. The backup singers are me, too, using GB's Vocal Transformer. I used to use Digital Performer for such transformations, and the GB way is WAY easier. I recorded this track as a rehearsal aide for my kids who would perform it.
It's far from perfect -- the drum part does not have any variations, sometimes the main vocal is subject to clipping, the ending is abrupt, and on and on you could go. But I think strictly from a "fun" factor, this is a cute little ditty.
When I was in the process of casting this scene, I asked my kids (ages 8-9-10), "Who wants to play Martin Luther?" One or two out of about twenty raised their hands. Then I asked, "Who wants to be the Devil?" EVERYBODY raised their hands! So I had to add some "mini-devil" backup singers to accomodate the demand to play devils.
One of the songs was Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Luther (1483-1546) translated the New Testament from Latin into German, while hiding from the authorities at the Wartburg Castle. Luther reported being oppressed by Satan and his demons while completing this work.
So I thought, "Let's have a scene where the devil tries to discourage Luther from his translating work." So I came up with this little ditty. I think it sounds a little bit like the theme song from "Little Shop Of Horrors."
The voice is mine. The backup singers are me, too, using GB's Vocal Transformer. I used to use Digital Performer for such transformations, and the GB way is WAY easier. I recorded this track as a rehearsal aide for my kids who would perform it.
It's far from perfect -- the drum part does not have any variations, sometimes the main vocal is subject to clipping, the ending is abrupt, and on and on you could go. But I think strictly from a "fun" factor, this is a cute little ditty.
When I was in the process of casting this scene, I asked my kids (ages 8-9-10), "Who wants to play Martin Luther?" One or two out of about twenty raised their hands. Then I asked, "Who wants to be the Devil?" EVERYBODY raised their hands! So I had to add some "mini-devil" backup singers to accomodate the demand to play devils.
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Lyrics
Hey, Martin Luther, give me a look
Get your nose out of that book
Hey, Martin here’s a rule of thumb
All that Bible reading’s making you dumb
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Don’t you know it’s a crime how you waste your time
(Don’t you waste your time now) Hey Hey Martin
(Don’t you know it’s a crime now) Hey Hey Martin
Hey Martin Luther put down your pen
On the loser scale, you’re a “10”
Hey, Martin Luther, what do you think
Bible Translation is a waste of ink
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Don’t you know it’s a crime how you waste your time
(Don’t you waste your time now) Hey Hey Martin
(Don’t you know it’s a crime now) Hey Hey Martin
Bible Translation won’t do any good
The people don’t want to read it
And even when they do, it’s misunderstood
So take my advice and heed it! The people don’t need it!
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Don’t you know it’s a crime how you waste your time
(Don’t you waste your time now) Hey Hey Martin
(Don’t you know it’s a crime now) Hey Hey Martin
Martin Luther!
Get your nose out of that book
Hey, Martin here’s a rule of thumb
All that Bible reading’s making you dumb
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Don’t you know it’s a crime how you waste your time
(Don’t you waste your time now) Hey Hey Martin
(Don’t you know it’s a crime now) Hey Hey Martin
Hey Martin Luther put down your pen
On the loser scale, you’re a “10”
Hey, Martin Luther, what do you think
Bible Translation is a waste of ink
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Don’t you know it’s a crime how you waste your time
(Don’t you waste your time now) Hey Hey Martin
(Don’t you know it’s a crime now) Hey Hey Martin
Bible Translation won’t do any good
The people don’t want to read it
And even when they do, it’s misunderstood
So take my advice and heed it! The people don’t need it!
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Martin Luther (Hey Martin, listen up Martin)
Don’t you know it’s a crime how you waste your time
(Don’t you waste your time now) Hey Hey Martin
(Don’t you know it’s a crime now) Hey Hey Martin
Martin Luther!
White Hawks
i like it very much! thanks for sharing.
- Hawks