A choirboy is a boy member of a choir, also known as a treble.
As a derisive slang term, it refers to a do-gooder or someone who is morally upright, in the same sense that "Boy Scout" (also derisively) refers to someone who is considered honorable or conscientious.
History
The use of choirboys in Christian liturgical music can be traced back to pre-Christian times. Saint Paul's dictum that "women should be silent in churches" (mulieres in ecclesiis taceant) resonated with this largely patriarchal tradition; the development of vocal polyphony from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance and Baroque thus took place largely, though not exclusively, in the context of the all-male choir, in which all voice parts were sung by men and boys.
The first known usage in print of the term "choirboy" (rather than the earlier "singing boy") was by the Victorian novelist William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863) in chapter vii of his story The Ravenswing, published in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country (London, Sept. 1843, XXVIII/165, p.321): "He had been a choir-boy at Windsor".
Parody of Cowboy by Kid Rock (Matt. 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Psalm 118, Isaiah 28:16) Well I’m uh back in the fourth grade and I’m uh 10 I guess When weird women thought we kids all lived to take tests Kinda kept to myself – real shy kid I liked old rock songs and the pop'lar hits There was a kid talkin' 'bout a choir they got Said a lot of the spots were not locked because The guy who taught with the choir was still fillin' the rows And lots of kids couldn't sound the notes And he told me it's fun to sing with the choir Get known as a kid that God set apart Said to me you wanna? I'm gonna go Try out for the choir fella you should come along Start attendin' church service in robes just like Jesus And get a spot in the Four Tops or Four Seasons That rocks! Cause I'm a real good voice And I'm takin' that test, sucka, because I'm gonna be a choirboy baby With a top 10 smash and the nuns all smiling (Choirboy baby) Guess who’s chillin’ with the boys’ choir (I’m gonna be a choirboy baby) Shinin’ my light while the people pray (Choirboy baby) A cappella singer from a higher plane I let him hear my little vocals and he said, "You’re in" I go "Ah ah ah ah ah" – I dusted my friend Told him "You won’t do – there’s no gown in your size" Well that’s his loss – my gown it fits fine They told me "Believe in Jesus Christ" I'll get Him after this part of my exciting life Cause if I time this right I'm gonna make like a Beach Boy And let California girls know why they all need a choirboy baby Better stop that act everyone’s not buyin’ (Choirboy baby) Just like Dylan with a good voice (I’m gonna be a choirboy baby) Hidin’ my life while I seem O.K. (Choirboy baby) I can tell a fib with a smiley face Yeah it rocked – you can call me "blessed" Only something’s missin’ and I gotta confess Seems the sin that’s in my head is growin’ wild and fast And it’d get this kid kicked right out of Mass No kidding I’m sittin’ in church gettin’ real bored Call the cops ‘cause I’m lost Where’s the cross and the Lord? Felt remorse and embarrassed and I tried to get right Felt like hangin’ down my head and hangin’ up my life (Huh!) Got famous – rocked the eleventh grade ‘cause Director picked me for my senior play yes Got to wear make-up – rock band came up They told me sing lead but then the band breaks up Pride had got a grip on me Robbed me of the sort of faith I’d need I didn’t know Jesus – I just would beg Him for favors Finally straight out of college I made Him my Savior Now life’s a pleasure – this guy’s legit I’d always heard that Christians were radical idiots I make it my biz to dispel that notion And keep on trustin’ Him with all my devotion (Choirboy) with a rock band that’s into song rewritin’ (Choirboy) spend all my time at finding words that rhyme (Choirboy) ridin’ at night cause the gigs I play (Choirboy) might be held at 800 miles away (Choirboy) with ApologetiX backin’ the songs I’m rhymin’
Axel Rudakubana was autistic and rarely left his home (Picture. Getty). The 17-year-old accused of murdering three young girls at a dance class in Southport has been described as a ‘quiet choirboy’ who ‘never went outside’ ... Sort ... Danny Rigg ... Danny Rigg.
Relative described the months after his financial misdemeanours came to light as ‘like there was someone dead in the family’. Former solicitor Michael LynnPaul Caffrey... He had been seen locally as a harmless choirboy from a God-fearing family ... .
The former choirboys had hoped that this was the weekend when they would finally get to go back on the road with their ultra-violent brand of drill music ...Related articles. Concern over use of drill music in court ... .
In what the Italian media called the “Pope’s choirboys” case, Father Gabriele Martinelli, 31, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a Vatican court for sexually abusing a minor when both ...
A former choirboy has accused the church of serious failings after he was sexually abused by a choirmaster at the centre of a twisted paedophile ring ... he was jailed for sexually abusing a choirboy.
Henry was under suicide watch at the Priory clinic when the call from the Church of England came ...Instead, following a review by its insurers, he would receive £98,000. He had 21 days to respond ... Related articles. UK NEWS ... .
Silvio Berlusconi served three terms as prime minister of Italy — nine years in total — but he will not be remembered primarily for public sector reforms, radical economic policies or foreign initiatives ... Silvio Berlusconi died today age 86. Pictured ... .
WHEN pensioner AdrianDence sang as a choirboy at the Queen’sCoronation 70 years ago he thought it was a once in a lifetime experience ... to watching history in the making as a 13-year-old choirboy.
A former Westminster Abbey choirboy, who sang at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation aged 11, has offered his advice to this year's choirboys ... coronation aged 11, offered advice to this year's choirboys.
