Story Behind The Song

I wrote this after reading an article online about this very occurence. I'm a big Guy Clark fan (who couldn't be?) & tried to write it as a story/ballad as he would.

Song Description

I have read 2 versions of a story similar to this over the years. One mostly true, the other one quite embellished & exaggerated. It's too much a feel-good story not to be a song to be shared. We all have a tendency to judge others by their appearance when we first meet them & are so often wrong.

Lyrics

Greystone Parish Gathering

He smelled like sweat & hard livin', was dressed in layers of dirty clothes
He had spent the night in the shelter with fifty other homeless souls
Everyone in the church kept their distance so he just knelt at the back in prayer
But he could hear the pointed whispers while others acted like he wasn't there

CHORUS And the choir sang halleluiah as the church bells began to ring
Everybody prayed that Sunday at the Greystone Parish gathering

For weeks the elders had gathered & labored thru a long hard search
Today they would meet their new pastor who would lead this hundred year old church
When that beggar's voice spoke up behind them the whole congregation turned their heads
To learn he was their new Pastor but then he humbled them with what he said

BRIDGE
He said if Jesus stood before you looking like He was in need
If He was cold & hungry you would offer Him food & drink
Now I'm sorry I deceived you but heed my words & you'll understand
Remember we're all God's children even those that need a helping hand

CHORUS And the choir sang halleluiah as the church bells began to ring Everybody prayed that Sunday at the Greystone Parish gathering
As the choir sang halleluiah & the church bells began to ring
Everybody pray - at the Greystone Parish gathering