Rock of Ages cleft for me...
Doo -doo -doo...
It was a stylish congregation.
You could see they'd been around.
And they had the biggest pipe organ
of any church in town.
But over in the amen corner of
that church sat Brother Eyre,
and he insisted every Sunday
on singing in the choir.
His voice was cracked and broken,
age had touched his vocal cords,
and nearly every Sunday
he'd get behind
and miss the words.
Well, the choir got so flustered,
the church was told in fine
that Brother Eyre must stop his singing
or the choir was going to resign.
So the pastor appointed a committee,
I think it was three or four,
and they got in their big fine car
and drove up to Eyre's door.
They found the choir's great trouble
sitting there in an old armchair
an d the sum
mer's golden sunbeams
lay upon his snow -white hair.
Said York, we're here dear brother
with the vestry's approbation
to discuss a little matter
that affects the congregation.
Now it seems that your voice
has interfered with the choir,
so if you'll just lay out. you
listening brother Iyer?
The old man raised his head,
a sign that he did hear,
and on his cheek the three men
caught the glitter of a tear.
His feeble hands pushed back
the loxus white of silky snow,
and he answered the committee
in a voice both soft and low.
I wonder if beyond the tide
that's bracketed at my feet,
in that far -off heavenly temple
where my master I shall meet.
Yes, I wonder if when I try to sing
the songs of God up higher,
I wonder if they'll kick me out up there
for singing in heaven's choir.
A silence filled the little room.
The old man bowed his head.
The committee went on back to town,
but Brother Eyre was dead.
The choir missed him for a while,
but he was soon forgot.
A few churchgoers watched the door,
but the old man entered not.
Far away his voice is sweet,
and he sings his heart's desires,
where there are no church committees
an d no fashionable choirs.
Let me hide myself in Thee.