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Released in 1991

Crypt - I Used to Come Here When This Place Was a Crypt

Written by Paul McCartney • Carl Davis

Last updated on July 10, 2019

Album This song officially appears on the Liverpool Oratorio Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1991

Master album

Related songs

“I Used to Come Here When This Place Was a Crypt” is the third track of the third movement – entitled “Crypt” – of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio, released in 1991.

III: CRYPT.   1959. Shanty, now a confused teenager, goes to a Church dance in the crypt; he doubts his and God’s existence. Here, Mary Dee materialises – still dreamlike – to him again. Still he cannot see her. As he sings of his vision of the future, Mary Dee breaks the news that his father has died. Shanty is left sad and alone.

“Liverpool Oratorio” liner notes

Lyrics

I used to come here when this place

was a crypt.

Now the music plays.

Oh don't you sometimes wish they'd stick

to the script

As the local preacher says.

Rain from heaven will blessings bring,

Behold the harvest grown.

Rain from heaven falls down on you,

But me, I feel alone.

PREACHER (sympathetically)

Alone.

SHANTY

Alone.

PREACHER

If they won't come to worship God

in a church

Something must be done.

We have to instigate a nationwide search

For a way to make it fun.

Rain from heaven will blessings bring,

Behold the harvest grown.

SHANTY and PREACHER

Rain from heaven falls down on you,

SHANTY

But me, I feel alone.

Alone.

Officially appears on

Live performances

“Crypt - I Used to Come Here When This Place Was a Crypt” has been played in 6 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Crypt - I Used to Come Here When This Place Was a Crypt” has been played

See all concerts where “Crypt - I Used to Come Here When This Place Was a Crypt” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012

This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.

The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.

Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

Buy on Amazon

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