Lyrics Dying Man's Plea - The Staple Singers

Dying Man's Plea

Miscellaneous
A Dying Business
Spoken:
Funeral Directors of America, I am very deeply honored standing here;
Receiving this token of your esteem, «The Funeral Director of the
Year.»
Now I’ve been asked by all the delegates--and members of the board,
To tell you of the funeral that won me this award.
It was handled with taste and dignity, that much I can say for it;
And I’m sure it will take the family twenty years to pay for it!
It was a helluva fun’ral, It was a helluva fun’ral
The finest fun’ral ever booked:
I had some high school juniors who passed around petunial
And lilies everywhere you looked.
It was a helluva fun’ral, I say one helluva fun’ral
Oh, how I wish that you were there;
I had ten drum majorettes doubling on the castanets
It really was a lively affair
It really was a lively affair.
It was a helluva fun’ral, It was a helluva fun’ral
The national guard showed up for me;
And during the oration, they went into formation
And formed the letters R. I. P.
It was a helluva fun’ral, I say one helluva fun’ral
I gave it all my loving care;
The band was on its toes playing «Mexicali Rose»,
It really was a lively affair.
It really was a lively affair.
A tisket a tasket, Tell us about the casket
Spoken:
Well, I’ll tell you 'bout the casket, my good friends
It would-a made your poor eyes pop
It was sterling silver all around and a real formica top.
(Formica top, it had a formica top).
Well, I’ll tell you 'bout the widow, my good friends,
The widow was in navy blue
With a gown designed by Balenciaga, I supplied that too.
(He sold the widow widow’s weeds too).
I held the first funereal raffle, though I don’t much like to boast
And I gave away a Chevrolet to the person who cried the most.
(He gave away a brand new Chevrolet).
I won it myself!
There were eighteen jugglers by the grave to demonstrate their art
And when they were done, I fired a gun to let the hoot-e-nanny start.
(He fired a gun and the hoot-e-nanny begun).
I was serving beer and prtzels, 'til the hot pastrami came;
And I sold some souvenier hankies with the dear departed’s name.
(He was sellin' hankies with the dear departed’s name).
As a fitting finale we had the Rockettes from New Your’s Music Hall;
As you can see, my very good friends
All in all, all in all:
Sung:
It was a helluva fun’ral, I say one helluva fun’ral
No other burial could compare;
It was all done up deluxe 'n' I made forty thousand bucks,
It really was a lively affair.
It really was a swingin' affair!