Preacher Bailey
by Ken Bradbury
Sixty-two years of pulpit-poundin’ glory! Sixty-two years of salvation sweat…. Sixty-two winter of warnin’ the wicked… Sixty-two season and he wasn’t done yet.
Preacher Bailey, power in his blood, Sixty-two years makin’ saints outa mud…. Preacher Bailey, glory in his speech… Sixty-two years, Lord, listen to him preach! Well, Somebody shout Amen! Amen! Well, Somebody shout Amen!
Addicts drug from the pits of hell With their demons of rum shoutin’ “Lord, have mercy!” Every perversion that old Satan could yell ‘Til the devil himself cried, “Lord, have mercy!” Well, Somebody shout Amen! Amen! Well, Somebody shout Amen!
Cancel all the meetin’s cause there’s gonna be a preachin’ Cancel all the weddin’s and grab your Sunday shirt! Can’t nobody die ‘til revival fires are over…. Cancel all the funerals! Lord, we’re gonna have church!
Every bar was empty from Missouri to the river Every town was jumpin’ for the comin’ of the Lord… ‘Bout a thousand chairs all got filled in a minute As the Bailey Preacher smiled and nodded to the choir.
Well Somebody say Amen! (Amen!) Well Somebody say Amen! (Amen!) Well Somebody say Amen! (Amen!) As the lost of the Lord came home!
Four hot hours on the verge of death…. Well Somebody say Amen! Four hot hours ‘fore he drew a breath! Well Somebody say Amen!
And Lord! How they came! How they ran to glory When Bailey said, “Who’ll accept the call?” And Lord! How they wept at that alter holy When Bailey said, “Lord, forgive them all!”
From the back of the tent to the front of the choir, From the lowly dregs to exalted squires. Dirt-raised farmers and the clerks and wives And their children knelt to dedicate their lives.
(this could be sung or spoken) WELL, VICTORY IN JESUS.. MY SAVIOR FOREVER HE SOUGHT ME AND BOUGHT ME WITH HIS REDEEMING BLOOD…..
Kids chasin’ dogs ‘round the pulpit while they sang it… Drunks in the back struck dumb by God!
HE LOVED ME E’ER I KNEW HIM AND ALL MY LOVE IS DUE HIM
Preachin’ hadn’t started but the spirit filled the temple And the old brown tent started shakin’ for the Lord.
HE PLUNGED ME TO VICTORY BENEATH THE CLEANSING FLOOD!
Then came the testimony, Then came the flood… Then came the sinners to be washed in the blood!
Rowdies in the back of the congregation swore… Rough-house gamblers threw their bets onto the floor…. Liars started screamin’ with their lungs scorchin’ hot And twelve Baptist matrons just fainted on the spot. Well, Somebody shout Amen!
Cancel all the meetin’s cause there’s gonna be a preachin’ Cancel all the weddin’s and grab your Sunday shirt! Can’t nobody die ‘til revival fires are over…. Cancel all the funerals! Lord, we’re gonna have church!
Preacher Bailey took the stand! (Oh Lord, have mercy on the unsaved now!) Preacher Bailey raised his hand! (Sinners quaked in their sin-filled boots!) Preacher Bailey said, “Let’s pray!” (And every head got bowed….) Preacher Bailey said, “Dear Lord!” (And the three front pews repented.)
When Preacher Bailey said, “Dear Lord….” The tent, it started shakin’…… When Preacher Bailey said, “Dear Lord……” The ground, it started shakin’…. When Preacher Bailey said, “Dear Lord….” The mountains started shakin’…. When Preacher Bailey said, “Dear Lord….” The Lord said, “Who’s that talkin’?”
Sixty-two years he walked those boards, Eighty-five summers, he knew the Lord. Then in a flash, in a golden light Old Preacher Bailey just died one night.
Somebody once said that tombs are cold and dead mean’s bones just rot and mold… But those who know, know every soul just keeps on travelin’ onward…… There’s some souls burn and some catch fire and some just simmer there awhile But souls that know the Lord take flight and keep on travelin’ upward!
Preacher Bailey raised his eyes and looked upon the endless skies Of golden sunsets, summer dawns, of this new world he’d come upon. The tent was gone, he flock had fled, and just as he had turned his head To see what wonders next he’d view he heard a voice he thought he knew…..
And there at the foot of his old oak bed Stood the Lord Almighty. “Hey! You ain’t dead! “Get up, Old Bailey! Life’s begun! “And welcome home, my favorite son!”
“At least!” said Bailey! “I’ve passed the test! “Worked sixty years now it’s time to rest!” “You’re gonna rest? Just wait and see!” Said the Lord Almighty, “Now preach to me!”
Cancel all the meetin’s cause there’s gonna be a preachin’ Cancel all the weddin’s and grab your Sunday shirt! Can’t nobody die ‘til revival fires are over…. Cancel all the funerals! Lord, we’re gonna have church!
Well Somebody say Amen!