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 the old violin

But he held it up with a smile

He said, "It sure ain't much, but it's all we've got left

I guess we oughta sell it too

Oh, now who'll start the bid on this old violin?

Just one more and we'll be through"

And 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

Who's gonna bid for me?

Raise up your hand now, don't wait any longer

The auction's about to end

Who's got four? Just one dollar more

To bid on this old violin"

Well, the air was hot and the people stood around

As the sun was setting low

And from the back of the crowd

A gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow

He 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

And then the music stopped and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quiet and low

He said, "Now what am I bid for this old violin?"

And he held it up with a bow

Then he cried out

"One, give me one thousand, who'll make it two?

Only two thousand, who'll make it three?

Three thousand twice, you know that's a good price

Come on, who's gonna bid for me?"

And the people cried 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 with sin

And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world

Much like that old violin

But then the Master comes and the old, foolish crowd

They never understand

The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought

Just by one touch of the Master's hand

Oh, then he cried out

"One, give me one thousand, who'll make it two?

Only two thousand, who'll make it three?

Three thousand twice, you know that's a good price

Come on, who's gonna bid for me?"

And the people cried out, "What made the change

We don't understand"

Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile

"It was the touch

Ooh, it was the touch of the Master's hand"