The Master's Hand - Dolly Parton

«Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But he held it up with a smile.

«What am I bidden, good folks,"he cried,

«Who'll start bidding for me?

A dollar, a dollar — now who"ll make it two _

Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?

«Three dollars once, three dollars twice,

Going for three».. .

but no!

From the room far back a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening up the strings,

He played a melody, pure and sweet,

As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: «What am I bidden for the old violin?»

And he held it up with the bow;

«A thousand dollars — and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand — and who’ll make it three?

Three thousand once, three thousand twice

And going — and gone,"said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

«We do not quite understand —

What changed its worth?"The man replied:

«The touch of the masters hand.»

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.

Much like the old violin.

A «mess of pottage,"a glass of wine,

A game and he travels on,

He’s going once, and going twice —

He’s going — and almost gone!

But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,

Never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the MASTER’S hand.