Rock of Ages clef 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 up on his snow- white hair
Said York, "We're here with
the Vestry's approbation
To discuss a little mater 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 science 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 clef for me let me
hide myself in Thee