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MISCELLANEOUS TOM LEHRER SONGS

Thanksgiving (?)

Tune:  We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the lord's blessing 
For turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce.
It was slightly distressing, but now we're convalescing,
So sing praises to his name and forget not to floss.

Our nearest and dearest we don't want confessing,
It's sort of depressing to have them so near.
Our feelings suppressing for lightly acquiescing,
And perfectly professing we're glad they were here.

We gathered together and got the lord's blessing
Of course we're just guessing 'cause how can you tell?
Our stomachs are bloating, our kidneys nearly floating,
Hellos are very nice, but goodbyes can be swell.


The tune is that of We Gather Together, a traditional Thanksgiving hymn, written in 1597 by Adrianus Valerius, to celebrate a Dutch military victory. Translated into Latin by Eduard Kremser in 1877, and into English in 1894 by Theodore Baker.

WE GATHER TOGETHER
by Adrianus Valerius
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

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