(Sung to the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen")
THE WORLD OF RICHARD DAWKINS
Inspired by John Catalano's Website, "The World of Richard Dawkins"


The World of Richard Dawkins
Is a place where you will find
A scientific plethora
To stimulate your mind.
Expand your intellectual side;
Leave ignorance behind.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

He came from out of Africa,
As did we all, it seems.
His work has made the world aware
That we have selfish genes;
And thoughts that we hold sacred
May turn out to be just memes.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

A meme by definition
Is a virus of the mind.
The Bible is a favorite source
For stories of this kind,
Which glorify a watchmaker who
Turns out to be blind.

O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

The phenotype extended
Is a novel point of view.
It shows us what our genes affect
Beyond just me and you.
The world at large responds
To what our DNA can do.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

The river out of Eden
Flows along the banks of time.
It carries information
Down a long, unbroken line.
It's possible your DNA
May someday mix with mine.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

In climbing Mt. Improbable
Your chances may look bleak.
Perhaps around the backside
Is the very thing you seek--
A gradual slope that leads you
Ever onward to the peak.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

Unweaving of the rainbow
Is no art-destroying crime,
The poetry of Science
Speaks of truths that are sublime,
Whose elegance we celebrate
In music and in rhyme,
O, tidings of knowledge and truth,
Knowledge and truth.
O, tidings of knowledge and truth.

The final stanza, relating to Dawkins latest book, Unweaving the Rainbow,
was contributed by Alex Harman. Thanks, Alex!

Author's Note: If you don't understand the above song, you NEED to visit
John Catalano's wonderful website on Dawkins. Just click on any or all of
the above underlined links for a very rewarding journey.
Many thanks, John. Without you this song would never have "evolved."

Copyright 1997, by Jerry Phillips

CLICK TO HEAR MUSIC

Back to Hymnal Index

1