Original Lyrics
Coffee, Coffee, Coffee
(sung to the tune of Holy, Holy, Holy) by Christopher Raible
Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Praise the strength of coffee.
Early in the morn we rise with thoughts of only thee.
Served fresh or reheated, Dark by thee defeated,
Brewed black by perk or drip or instantly.
Though all else we scoff, we come to church for coffee;
If we’re late to congregate, we come in time for thee.
Coffee our one ritual, Drinking it habitual,
Brewed black by perk or drip instantly.
Coffee the communion Of our Uni-Union,
Symbol of our sacred ground, our one necessity.
Feel the holy power at our coffee hour,
Brewed black by perk or drip or instantly.
I suggest swapping two lines:
Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Praise the strength of coffee.
Early in the morn we rise with thoughts of only thee.
Served fresh or reheated, Dark by thee defeated,
Brewed black by perk or drip or instantly.
Feel the holy power at our coffee hour,
If we’re late to congregate, we come in time for thee.
Coffee our one ritual, Drinking it habitual,
Brewed black by perk or drip instantly.
Coffee the communion Of our Uni-Union,
Symbol of our sacred ground, our one necessity.
Though all else we scoff, we come to church for coffee;
Brewed black by perk or drip or instantly.
Just makes more sense to me, as if this is supposed to make sense!
Christopher Raible Remembrances (2011)
Near the end of an almost one hour interview, Rev. Raible discusses parody hymns and reads his most famous one.
This hymn is likely in his pamphlet, Hymns for the cerebration of strife : freely translated from a well-known Unitarian Universalist publication of similar title,
Raible, Christopher G., Boston, Mass. : Unitarian Universalist Association, 1972.