Tabernacle Tom

The Youngstown tabernacle stood amongst some giant oak trees

Just outside of Youngstown in eastern Tennessee

The bell would toll each Sunday for the Youngstown folks to come

The man who made the church bell ring was tabernacle Tom

The Youngstown people said old Tom was touched in his mind

He mowed the lawn and cleaned the church and never charged a dime

They said he was a lonely man no friend or kin or wife

And to serve Gods tabernacle was his only aim in life

But ol’ tabernacle Tom had a song to sing

Ol’ tabernacle Tom had a bell to ring

Tabernacle Tom had a job to be done

Thank God the world’s been blessed with men like tabernacle Tom

One day the news like wild fire went racing through Youngstown

They said ol’ crazy Tom had burned the tabernacle down

So the sheriff went and got him and took him off to jail

The Youngstown Christian Soldiers said ol’ Tom was bound for hell

Sunday morning found the heavens filled with dark and churning clouds

By church time it was raining hard and the wind was howling loud

They still talk about the twister that missed Youngstown, Tennessee

And the burned out tabernacle crushed beneath the giant oak tree

But ol’ tabernacle Tom had a song to sing

Ol’ tabernacle Tom had a bell to ring

Tabernacle Tom had a job to be done

Thank God the world’s been blessed with men like tabernacle Tom

The Youngstown congregation went and got Tom out of jail

They asked him if he had a vision but he wouldn’t tell

Now if this legend has a lesson then I’ll take the stand

That each man has a purpose in the Masters master plan

But ol’ tabernacle Tom had a song to sing

Ol’ tabernacle Tom had a bell to ring

Tabernacle Tom had a job to be done

Thank God the world’s been blessed with men like tabernacle Tom