Bill Anderson - Trouble In The Amen Corner lyrics

Rock of Ages cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

It was a stylish congregation

You could see they had been around

And they had the biggest pipe organ

Of any church in town.

But over in the amen corner

Of that church sat Ol' Brother Ire

And every Sunday he insisted

On singing in the choir.

His voice was cracked and broken

Age had touched his vocal chords

And nearly every Sunday

He would get behind and miss the words.

Well, the choir got so flustered

The church was told then fine

Brother Ire must quit his singing

Or the choir is going to resign.

So the pastor appointed a committee

I think it was three or four

They got in their big fine car

Drove up to Ire's door.

They found the choirs great trouble

Sitting there in a big armed chair

The summers golden sum beam

Lay upon his snow-white hair.

Said York, ''We're here

With the Vestry's approbation

To discuss a little matter

That affects the congregation.''

''Now it seems your voice

Is interfering with the choir

So if you will just lay out

Are you listening Brother Ire?''

The old man raised his head

A sign he did hear

And on his cheek the three men caught

The glitter of a tear.

His feeble hands pushed back

The locks as white as silky snow

And he answered the committee

In a voice both soft and low.

''I wonder if beyond the tide

That is breaking at my feet

In that far off heavenly temple

Where my Master I shall meet.''

''I wonder if when I try to sing

The songs of God up higher

Will they kick me out up there

For singing in Heavens Choir?"

A silence filled the room

The old man bowed his head

The committee went on back to town

But Brother Ire was dead.

The choir missed him for awhile

But it soon forgot

A few church goers watched the door

But the old man entered not.

From far away his voice is sweet now

And he sings his hearts desires

Where there are no committees

And no fashionable choirs.

Rock of age's cleft for me

Let me hide myself in Thee...