Trouble In The Amen Corner
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 this church
Sat Brother Ira
And he insisted every Sunday
On singing in the choir
His voice was cracked and broken
Age had touched his vocal cords
And he'd get behind and miss the words
Well the choir stormed and blustered
Brother Ira sang too slow
And he sang the tunes that were in style
A hundred years ago
So at last the storm cloud burst
The church was told in bind
That Brother Ira 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 into thier big fine cars
And drove up to Ira's door
They found the choir's great trouble
Sittin in an old arm chair
And the summer's golden sunbeams
Played upon his snow white hair
He was singing Rock Of Ages
In a cracked voice soft and low
But the angels in Heaven understood him
And that's all he cared to know
Said York we're here dear Brother
With the Vestries apprebation
To discuss a little matter that
Affects the congregation
Now we don't want no more singin,
Except that what we bought
The new ones are all the rage
The old ones stand for naught
And so we've decided
Are you listenin Brother Ira
You're gonna have to stop your singin
It's messin up the choir
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 locks as white and silky snow
And he answered the committee
In a voice both soft and low
I've sung the songs of David
Almost eighty years said he
They've been my staff and comfort
All along life's dreary way
I'm sorry I desturbed the choir
I guess I'm doin wrong
But when my heart is filled with praise
Why I can't keep back a song
You know I wonder if beyond the tide
That's breakin at my feet
In that far off Heavely temple
where my Master I shall meet
Wonder if when I try to sing
The songs of God on higher
Reckon they'll kick me out up there
For singin 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 Ira was dead
Oh the choir missed him for a while
But he was soon forgot
And a few church members
Watched the door
But the old man entered not
Far away his voice is sweet
And he sings his hearts desires
Where there are no church committee's
And no fashionable choir's
(author unknown)