The Touch of the Master's Hand

(Welch-Ritter-Allsup)



'Twas battered and scared

And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while

To waste much time on the ol' violin

But he held it up with a smile.



"What am I offered good folks?" he cried

"Who will start the bidding for me?

A dollar, one dollar, two, only two

Two dollars, who will make it three?

Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three.



But no, from the back of the room

A gray haired man came forward

And gently picked up the bow



And then wiping the dust from the ol' violin

Tuning the loose strings

He played a melody as pure and sweet

As the caroling angel's sing.



--- Instrumental ---



The music stopped and the auctioneer

With a voice quiet and low, said

"Now what am I bid for the ol' violin?"

He held it up with the bow.



A thousand dollars, who will make it two

Two thousand, who will make it three

Three thousand once, three thousand twice

And going, going and gone.



The people cheered but some of them cried

"We don't understand what changed it's worth?"

Then someone replied

"The touch of the master's hand."



So many a man with life out of tune

Much like the ol' violin

But the Master comes and a change is brought

By the touch of the Master's Hand.



By the touch of the Master's Hand...