Every Sperm Is Sacred

"Every Sperm Is Sacred" is a song from the movie "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life",later released on the album "Monty Python Sings". Michael Palin and Terry Jones wrote the music and lyrics and performed the sketch.

The song is a satire of Catholic teachings on reproduction which forbid masturbation and contraception by artificial means.

The sketch is about a Catholic man (Dad, played by Michael Palin), his wife (Mum, played by Terry Jones) and their 63 children, who are about to be sold for medical experimentation purposes because their parents can no longer afford to care for such a large family. When their children ask why they don't use contraception or sterilisation, Dad explains that this is against God's wishes, and breaks into song, the chorus of which is:

: "Every sperm is sacred,": "Every sperm is great.": "If a sperm is wasted,": "God gets quite irate."

Soon, his kids, his wife, and eventually the surrounding neighborhood join in and they all sing:

: "Every sperm is sacred": "Every sperm is good": "Every sperm is needed": "In your neighbourhood"

The production in "The Meaning of Life" is quite visually elaborate, choreographed by Arlene Phillips to a storyboard by director Terry Jones. The hearty and cheerful nature of the musical number is counterpointed as the children are marched off to their fate as the song ends, singing a dour rendition of the chorus. The song is a parody and was influenced by the song "Consider Yourself", from the musical "Oliver!".

See also

* Contraception.
* Abortion debate.
* Catholic Church.