How I Got The Calling

How I Got The Calling is song from the original London production of the stage adaptation of Sister Act. It serves as an exposition number for the girls on how they were inspired to become nuns while Sister Mary Robert was left on the convent's doorstep as baby.
When the musical was transferred to Broadway, the song was cut and replaced with "It's Good to Be a Nun."
==Lyrics==
Mary Patrick: When I was still a school girl,
Standing just about yay high,
I saw the face of Jesus in a coconut cream pie.
Next morning, there was Mary in a bowl of special k,
And ten of twelve Apostles in the salad bar buffet.
Now frankly, I’m an eater, and I polished of Saint Peter
When my tummy sorta gave a little lurch, and, I knew,
Beyond all question, it was more than indigestion,
And that’s how I got my calling to the church.
(Spoken)
Deloris: You found God in junk food?
Mary Patrick: The Lord works in mysterious ways! So I told mine, now you tell yours.
Deloris: Age before beauty.
Mary Lazarus: Death before dishonor.
(Sung)
My mother kicked the bucket in the flood of ‘38.
A falling Steinway piano sent my father to his fate.
All twenty of my siblings caught the plague, by some odd chance.
And something in the meatloaf got my uncles and my aunts.
The town I lived in bit it when a freak tornado hit it,
And the heartbreak took my dog to his reward.
And – I figured on reflection,
I could maybe use protection,
And that’s how I got my calling to the lord!
(how I got my calling to the lord)
Mary Patrick & Mary Lazarus: Yes, that was how I got the calling!
Mary Lazarus: And it was bracing -
Mary Patrick: But enthralling!
Mary Patrick & Mary Lazarus: And I just knew I’d do as I was bid.
Mary Patrick: I’d be overfed -
Mary Lazarus: And I’d be obviously dead -
Mary Patrick & Mary Lazarus: So thank the Lord I got the calling when I did!
(Spoken)
Mary Patrick: Now you!
Deloris: No, them!
Mary Lezin: The folks from ‘Jews for Jesus' stuck a pamphlet in my purse.
Mary Cecilia: I heard a voice while playing ‘Sergeant Pepper’ in reverse.
Mary Petroc: I prayed and then by goll, my psoriasis was healed.
Mary Antioch: People always told me that I looked like Sally Field.
Mary Katari: I had a revelation when I skipped my medication.
MARY Wiligis: The outfit just did wonders for my frame.
Nuns: And, yes it may be odd to get a wake-up call from God.
But in the end, I got the calling, and I came. (I got the calling and I came)
And that was how I got the calling, (La La La La La La )
And gave my life an overhauling (La La La La)
Mary Antioch & Mary Petroc: And it was loud -
Mary Miguel: And firm -
Mary Josephat: And oh, so clear!
Nuns: Yes it’s quite a jump.
Mary Genesis: But I’d be lost -
Mary Emebert: Afraid -
Mary Petroc: A frump!
Nuns: So thank the Lord I got the calling,
And I’m here!
(Spoken)
Mary Patrick: Saved the best-est for last-est!
Deloris: Oh, oh, she hasn't gone yet.
Mary Robert: Oh no, not me, I can't - I didn't -
Mary Patrick: Mary Robert wasn't exactly called to the convent,
Were ya, Mouse? Tell her.
(Sung)
Mary Robert: Well...
You see... I mean... it’s kind of like, I –
Mary Patrick: Came here as a tot.
Mary Robert:' What I mean is...
MARY PATRICK: Left here at the door.
[Go on.]
Mary Robert: And I don’t know if I’m...
Mary Patrick:... supposed to be a nun -
Mary Robert: or -
Mary Patrick: Not.
Mary Robert: It’s...
Mary Patrick: Hard to say, but after all, that’s what the call if for.
[Right? So! Spotlight's back on you, sister. 'Fess up!]
Deloris:[O-kay... Ah...]
Me and... sister sledge...
We had a ministry, I guess.
[Ah...]
Uh, working at our lady of... perpetual... excess...
We’d go among the village... people... everyday... well, night.
Lifting up the sinful and helping the uptight.
Then suddenly one day it was like, bang!
And right away I saw the light
And screamed "Sweet Jesus Christ" and such
And... I asked to be secluded in this hellhole just like you did.
And that’s how I got the calling, pretty much
Nuns: How she got the calling
Pretty much.
Deloris: And that’s is how I got the calling.
Nuns: It was sublime -
Deloris: And yet appalling!
Nuns: And it was oh, so right in all respects!
Aahhhh...
Mary Miguel: Sweet as mountain honey -
Mary Adelard: And as wild as summer lightening -
Mary Kateri: And as warm as woollen mittens -
MARY Emebert: And so fierce that it was frightening -
Mary Wiligis: And as bright as new-cut flowers -
Mary Lezin: And as swift as April showers -
Deloris: And orgasmic as a night of sweaty sex!
[I'm sorry, was that out loud?]
(Sung)
Mary Patrick: If it never came -
Mary Lazarus: If all our lives were just the same -
Mary Patrick & Mary Lazarus: Well, heaven knows what might’ve happened to us then...
Nuns: But we got the calling.
Thank the Lord we got the calling.
We’re so glad you got the calling,
Amen!
Category:Sister Act songs
Category:Musical songs
Category:Group songs