Lyrics Dolly Parton – Master’s Hand

«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.