The Touch of the Master's Hand
Well, it was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Felt it was hardly worth his while
To waste much time on this old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
Now it sure ain't much, but it's all we got left;
I guess we ought to sell it too.
Now, who'll start the bid on this old violin?
Just one more 'n we'll be through.
Then he cried, "One give me one dollar, who'll make it two,
Only two dollars, who'll make it three?
Three dollars twice, now that's a good price,
But who'll start the bid for me?
Raise up your hands, and don't wait any longer,
'Cause this auction's about to end.
Now who's got four, just one dollar more, to bid on this old violin?
Well, now the air was hot, and the people stood around,
And the sun was setting low.
Then, from the back of the crowd, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.
He then, wiped the dust from the old violin,
And he tightened up the strings.
And then he played out a melody pure and sweet,
Sweeter than the angels sing.
But then, the music stopped, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "Now, who'll start the bid on this old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
And then he cried, "One give me one thousand, who'll make it two?
Only two thousand, who'll make it three?
Three thousand twice, now that's a good price,
But who's got the bid for me?
Well, the people called out, "What made the change;
We don't understand."
Then, the auctioneer stopped, and he said with a smile,
"It was the touch of the Master's hand."
You know, there's many a man with his life out of tune,
Battered and scarred by sin.
And He's auctioned cheap to a thankless world,
Much like the old violin.
Well, when the Master comes, and that old foolish crowd,
They never understand the worth of a soul
And the change that's wrought ...
Just by one touch of the Master's Hand.
Yes, he cried, "One give me one thousand, who'll make it two?
Only two thousand, who'll make it three?
Three thousand twice, now that's a good price,
But who's got the bid for me?
Well, the people called out, "What made the change,
We don't understand?"
Then, the auctioneer stopped, and he said with a smile,
"It was the touch of the Master's hand."