It’s tough to be an alto when you’re singing in the choir

The sopranos get the twiddly bits that people all admire.

The basses boom like loud trombones,

The tenors shout with glee,

But the alto part is on two notes

(or if you’re lucky, three)

And when we sing an anthem and we lift our hearts in praises

The men get all the juicy bits and telling little phrases.

Of course the trebles sing the tune –

They always come off best;

The altos only get three notes and twenty two bars rest.

We practise very hard each week

From hymn book and the Psalter

But when the conductor looks at us

Our voices start to falter.

"Too high! Too low! Too fast! –

You held that note too long!"

It doesn’t matter what you do – it’s certain to be wrong!

Oh I shed a tear for the altos they’re the martyrs and they know

In the ranks of choral singers they’re considered very low.

And when the final trumpet sounds and we are wafted higher,

Sopranos, basses, tenors – they’ll be in the heavenly choir.

While they sing "Alleluia!" to celestial flats and sharps,

The Altos will be occupied with polishing the harps!

(source and author unknown)

(Provided by Rev Stephen Poxon)