Song "Raccoon Revival"

by hmike 3 Replies latest social humour

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  hmike

  Hi all!

  This may not be a great place to ask about this, but I'm desperate for some information.

  Back in the early 70s, there was a little-known song that I heard on pop radio stations. The song was titled, "Raccoon Revival." It was about a spiritually dead church in some rural midwest area, or maybe the Ozarks. A raccoon got into the sanctuary during the service and climbed up a woman's leg. She jumped up and hollered. People there, not knowing what had really happened, thought she had been filled with the Holy Spirit and that's why she was so excited. Other people joined in and it started a revival in the church.

  I can't find out anything about this song--the words, or even name of the male singer who recorded it. When I search online, all I get are sites about "Rocky Raccoon" or other things not related to this song at all. Does anyone remember it, or direct me with a link how to find out about obscure songs? Thanks.
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  kittyeatzjdubs

  u'r thinking of Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens

  Well, when I was a kid I'd take a trip every summer down the Mississippi
  To visit my granny in her antebellum world
  I'd run barefooted all day long climbin' trees free as a song
  And one day I happened to catch myself a squirrel
  Well, I stuffed him down in an old shoe box, punched a couple of holes in the top
  And when Sunday came I snuck him into Church
  I was sittin' way back in the very last pew showin' him to my good buddy Hugh
  When that squirrel got loose and went totally berserk
  Well, what happened next is hard to tell
  Some thought it was heaven others thought it was hell
  But the fact that something was among us was plain to see
  As the choir sang "I Surrender All" the squirrel ran up Harv Newlan's coveralls
  Harv leaped to his feet and said, "Somethin's got a hold on me", Yeow!

  Chorus

  The day the squirrel went berserk
  In the First Self-Righteous Church
  In the sleepy little town of Pascagoula
  It was a fight for survival that broke out in revival
  They were jumpin' pews and shoutin' Hallelujah!

  Well, Harv hit the aisles dancin' and screamin'
  Some thought he had religion others thought he had a demon
  And Harv thought he had a weed eater loose in his Fruit-Of-The-Looms
  He fell to his knees to plead and beg and the squirrel ran out of his britches leg
  Unobserved to the other side of the room
  All the way down to the amen pew where sat Sister Bertha better-than-you
  Who'd been watchin' all the commotion with sadistic glee
  But you should've seen the look in her eyes
  When that squirrel jumped her garters and crossed her thighs
  She jumped to her feet and said "Lord have mercy on me"
  As the squirrel made laps inside her dress
  She began to cry and then to confess to sins that would make a sailor blush with shame
  She told of gossip and church dissension but the thing that got the most attention
  Was when she talked about her love life and then she started naming names

  Chorus

  The day the squirrel went berserk
  In the First Self-Righteous Church
  In that sleepy little town of Pascagoula
  It was a fight for survival that broke out in revival
  They were jumpin' pews and shoutin' Hallelujah!

  Well seven deacons and the pastor got saved,
  Twenty-five thousand dollars was raised and fifty volunteered
  For missions in the Congo on the spot
  Even without an invitation there were at least five hundred rededications
  And we all got baptized whether we needed it or not
  Now you've heard the bible story I guess
  How he parted the waters for Moses to pass
  Oh the miracles God has wrought in this old world
  But the one I'll remember 'til my dyin' day
  Is how he put that Church back on the narrow way
  With a half crazed Mississippi squirrel

  Chorus

  The day the squirrel went berserk
  In the First Self-Righteous Church
  In the sleepy little town of Pascagoula
  It was a fight for survival that broke out in revival
  They was jumpin' pews and shoutin' Hallelujah!
• 

  kls

  I tell ya , there ain't nuttin on the forum that people don't know
• 

  hmike

  Thanks much, kitty.

  Wonder where I got the idea it was a raccoon. That's why I couldn't find anything about it. 30 years makes details fuzzy, I guess.