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 we 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's 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 tightened up the strings
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
'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

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'