Am Em Em7  Am Em Em7  C D G

G
Well, it was battered and scarred
D
An the auctioneer felt
C                       G
It was hardly worth his while
                             D
To waste much time on the old violin
  C           Am7          D
But he held it up with a smile
G
It sure ain't much
D
But it's all we got left
C                           Am
I guess we ought to sell it too
G                                 D
Now who'll start the bid on this old violin
C             Am7              G 
Just one more and we'll be through

G
And then he cried

One, give me one dollar

Who'll make it two
Am
Only two dollars

Who'll make it three
Am7
Three dollars twice
D
Now that's a good price
C                       G
But who's got a bid for me

Raise up your hand

And don't wait any longer
Am                   Am7
The auction's about to end
D
Who's got four

Just one dollar more
C         D         G
To bid on this old violin

G
Well the air was hot
D
And the people stood around
C                       G
As the sun was setting low
                             D
From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man
C               Am          D
Came forward, picked up the bow
G                          D
He wiped the dust from the old violin
C                    Am
And tightened up the strings
G                                  D
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet
C                       G
sweeter than the angels sing

D
And then the music stopped
Am                        C                   G
And the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low
Em                             C
He said What am I bid for this old violin
G                  D
Then he held it up with a bow

G
And then he cried out one give me one thousand,
                            Am
Who’ll make it two only two thousand who’ll make it three,
Am7                                     D
Three thousand twice you know that’s a good price,
C                         G
Common who’s gonna bid for me?
                                               Am         Am7
And the people cried out what made the change we don’t understand,
       D
Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile,
C                       D         G
It was the touch of the Master’s hand

G
Now you know
                          D
Many a man with a life out of tune
C                            G
Is battered and scarred with sin
                                   D
And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world
C         Am        D
Much like that old violin
G                              D
Then the master comes and the foolish crowd
C    G        Am
They never understand
G
The worth of a soul
D
And the change that is wrought
C                       D            G
Just by one touch of the Master's hand