Last modified on October 7, 2024, at 18:11

Shriner's Convention (song)

Shriner's Convention (sometimes spelled without the apostrophe) is a novelty song by Ray Stevens from the album of the same name.

The song is a humorous take on a fictional convention of Shriners, featuring three events (a parade, a formal banquet, and a "secret conclave" which was actually a poker game) interspersed around telephone conversations between two members of the Hahira, Georgia delegation: "Illustrious Potentate" (aka "Bubba") and "Noble Lumpkin" (aka "Coy").

Only Bubba's voice is heard; his reactions are based on what he hears Coy say and do. Bubba is becoming increasingly upset at Coy's sophomoric antics during the convention. Reminding him that they are supposed to be "pillars of the community", at the end Bubba intends to remove Coy from the Shrine, only to have Coy imply he will join the Hell's Angels instead.