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

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