A child in church is distracted by Mr. Pennybaker, the bass singer. His songbook is held low, his face stretches down, and when the child stares, Mother says not to watch because he’s only singing bass. But the child keeps noticing things: Mr. Pennybaker’s voice seems to walk down low or rush ahead, yet he always finishes the last line of the hymn after everyone else. The speaker’s tone is curious and a little amused, not mean. There is a warm, playful mood here, built from the ordinary details of a Sunday service. At the end, the child wonders if Mr. Pennybaker’s slow, deep singing means he understands all those Old Testament names—Leviticus, Shem, Deuteronomy, Saul. That final question captures a child’s awe before adult rituals and the mystery of a grown-up man absorbed in song.
Mr. Pennybaker at Church — Summary
He holds his songbook very low, And then he stretches down his face, And Mother said, "You mustn't watch, He's only singing bass."
He makes his voice go walking down, Or else he hurries twice as fast As all the rest, but even then He finishes the song the last.
And when I see him singing there, I wonder if he knows it all About Leviticus and Shem And Deuteronomy and Saul.