Master's Call

by Marty Robbins I When I was but a young man, I was wild and full of fire A youth within my teens, but full of challenge and desire I ran away from home and left my mother and my dad I know it grieved them so to think their only boy went bad I I fell in with an outlaw band, their names were known quite well How many times we robbed and plundered, I could never tell This kind of sinful living, leads only to a fall I learned that much and more the night I heard my Master's call II One night we rustled cattle, a thousand head or so And started then out on the trail that leads to Mexico When a norther started blowing and lightning flashed about I thought someone was calling me, I thought I heard a shout III Then at that moment lightning struck not twenty yards from me And left there was a giant cross where once there was a tree This time I knew I heard a voice, a voice so sweet and strange A voice that came from everywhere, a voice that called my name I So frightened I was thinking of sinful deeds I'd done I failed to see the thousand head of cattle start to run The cattle they stampeded, were running all around My pony ran but stumbled and it threw me to the ground II I felt the end was near, that death would be the price When another bolt of lightning showed the face of Jesus Christ And I cried oh Lord forgive me, don't let it happen now I want to live for you alone, Oh God these words I vow III My wicked past unfolded and I thought of wasted years When another bolt of lightning killed a hundred head of steers And the others rushed on by me and I was left to live The Master had a reason, life is his to take or give I A miracle performed that night, I wasn't meant to die The dead ones formed a barricade nearly six or seven high And right behind it there was I, afraid but safe and sound I cried in vain for mercy kneeling there upon the ground I A pardon I was granted, my sinful soul set free No more to fear the angry waves upon life's stormy seas Forgiven by the love of God, a love that will remain I learned that much and more the night the Savior called my name