Tabernacle Tom

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The Youngstown tabernacle stood amongst some giant oak trees
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Just outside of Youngstown in eastern Tennessee
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The bell would toll each Sunday for the Youngstown folks to come
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The man who made the church bell ring was tabernacle Tom

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The Youngstown people said old Tom was touched in his mind
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He mowed the lawn and cleaned the church and never charged a dime
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They said he was a lonely man no friend or kin or wife
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And to serve Gods tabernacle was his only aim in life

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But ol' tabernacle Tom had a song to sing
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Ol' tabernacle Tom had a bell to ring
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Tabernacle Tom had a job to be done
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Thank God the world's been blessed with men like tabernacle Tom

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One day the news like wild fire went racing through Youngstown
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They said ol' crazy Tom had burned the tabernacle down
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So the sheriff went and got him and took him off to jail
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The Youngstown Christian Soldiers said ol' Tom was bound for hell

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Sunday morning found the heavens filled with dark and churning clouds
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By church time it was raining hard and the wind was howling loud
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They still talk about the twister that missed Youngstown, Tennessee
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And the burned out tabernacle crushed beneath the giant oak tree
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The Youngstown congregation went and got Tom out of jail
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They asked him if he had a vision but he wouldn't tell
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Now if this legend has a lesson then I'll take the stand
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That each man has a purpose in the Masters master plan