Who is Parson Brown?

Mr MartiniMr Martini That nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,698MI6 Agent
edited November 2004 in Off Topic Chat
I've heard the Christmas Song "Walking in a Winterwonder Land" a lot lately. In the song they mention a person named Parson Brown. Who is this? Or is it just a made up name.
Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope

Comments

  • justvisitingjustvisiting Posts: 61MI6 Agent
    Parson Brown was a pastor in Florida who developed the Parson Brown Orange (fruit, not color) around 1856, but I think the one in the song is simply a made up name.
  • wormloverwormlover Formerly Derbyshire, UKPosts: 46MI6 Agent
    I think it's some sort of term, maybe old slang, there has to be a reason for it, like the name "John Doe" means someone with amnesia
  • Lady RoseLady Rose London,UKPosts: 2,667MI6 Agent
    edited November 2004
    In the context of the song I would think its is just a made up name for a pastor...

    'In the meadow we can build a snowman
    Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
    He'll say: Are you married?
    we'll say: No man
    But you can do the job
    when you're in town'
  • CAGirl5586CAGirl5586 Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    Well I was watching Frosty the Snowman when I was babysitting the other night. In the movie Parson Brown in the pastor who marries Frosty to Crystal the snow woman that the children made to keep frosty company. That is all I know, the lyrics still do not make complete sense but that is a start.
  • LilacLilac SW Illinois, USAPosts: 9MI6 Agent
    edited December 2004
    Forgive me if this sounds condescending, but I'm not sure from your posts. "Parson" is just another word for "minister". The song is not talking about a person named Parson, it's talking about the local church pastor.
  • justvisitingjustvisiting Posts: 61MI6 Agent
    Hey Martini,

    I was listening to the Christmas songs on the radio too, and "Sleigh Ride" had a similar character:

    There's a birthday party
    At the home of Farmer Gray
    It'll be the perfect ending a perfect day

    I think as in the case of Farmer Grey, Parson Brown is just a generic name that provided a convenient rhyme for lyrics.

    Incidentally, do our British friends hear some of these Christmas songs on the radio? Most of them sound American.
  • sippyjuicesippyjuice Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    Back in the old days small towns didn't have parsons (pastors). They used to travel around different towns to perform the wedding ceremonies. So, that part makes sense. But what about the alligators?? What a weird song! All these years, we sing along and don't even know even know what we are truly singing.
  • one night standone night stand Posts: 127MI6 Agent
    There is a chip in our head, we cant control it. Its a conspiracy, ahhh. The age of man is over, the alligators are in control. Run for your lives !!!!!!!!!!!

    I gotta stop with these outbursts. :))
  • leighferdleighferd Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    It's the the other kids will knock him down. not the A word.........
  • helloworldhelloworld Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    "Parson Brown" is the term used to talk about a typical angelican priest of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. "Parson Brown" is not an actual person (though he might have been at some time), but a figure of speech, like "John Doe" is an unidentified male and "Charley" is a watchman. "Parson" by itself means minister.

    As from: www.urbandictionary.com
  • highhopeshighhopes Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
    He rhymes with "town." 'Nuff said.
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