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 / It sure ain't much / But it's all I got left / I guess we ought to sell it too / 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 / But who got a bid for me / Raise up your hand / And 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 / From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man / Came forward, picked up the bow / He wiped the dust from the old violin / And he tightened up the strings / Then he played out a melody pure and sweet / Sweeter than than the angels sing / And then the music stopped / And the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low / He said / What am I bid for this old violin / Then 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 / Well, that's a good price / But who's got a bid for me / 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 / Now you know / many a man with a life out of tune / Is battered and scarred with sin / And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world / Much like that old violin / Then the master comes and the 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 .......


Words and Music by John Kramp