The Vatican Rag

Words & Music:

Tom Lehrer

 

G7                                C6

First you get down on your knees, fiddle with your rosaries,

G7                                C   C#dim      Dm         G9

Bow your head with great respect, and genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

G7                            C6                    Bb7-5    A7

Do whatever steps you want if you have cleared them with the Pontiff.

F         F#dim       C        A7+  A7

Everybody say his own Kyrie eleison,

D7        G7      C

Doin' the Vatican Rag.

 

BRIDGE:

G7                                C                       C#dim7

Get in line in that processional, step into that small confessional.

G7                        C                                  C7

There the guy who's got religion'll tell you if your sin's original.

F                               Fm

If it is, try playin' it safer, drink the wine and chew the wafer,

F#dim                          G7

Two, four, six, eight, time to transubstantiate!

 

So get down upon your knees, fiddle with your rosaries,

Bow your head with great respect, and genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!

 

Make a cross on your abdomen, when in Rome do like a Roman;

Ave Maria, gee, it's good to see ya!

Gettin' ecstatic an' sorta dramatic an' doin' the Vatican Rag!