Salvation Man

With eyes that seemed to pierce my heart

And a look that went right through me

This man whose smile could lift the dark

Was a-marchin' with the army

His back was bent with the years he'd spent

Helpin' out the others

Drunk or blind, without a cent

To him, we all were brothers

He did not have a weapon

Just a Bible in his hand

And an old brass horn he carried

As he marched on with the band

I watched him search the winter night

To find the starving children

He'd wrap them in his coat real tight

And take them home to feed them

He never seemed to be afraid

No, the darkness could not stop him

All the alleys held the friends he made

The midnight drifters knew him

He did not have a weapon

Just a Bible in his hand

And an old brass horn he carried

As he marched on with the band

Salvation man

A-marchin' to the beat of a different drum

Salvation man

A-makin' royalty out of ghetto bums

Fightin' for his King in the city slums

Salvation man

A crowd gathered 'round the band

By the tavern on the corner

I wondered whether I could stand

Like him to face the scorners

He preached the love of Jesus

To the people as they mocked him

This soldier they all called a fool

Just turned his cheek to love them

He did not have a weapon

Just a Bible in his hand

And an old brass horn he carried

As he marched on with the band

One day he was promoted

To glory in the sky

I saw his place was empty

As the band went marchin' by

And I looked around to see

If anyone would volunteer

Then I gathered up my courage

And I put away my fear

Now I do not have a weapon

Just his Bible in my hand

And the old brass horn he carried

As I march on with the band

Salvation man

A-marchin' to the beat of a different drum

Salvation man

A-makin' royalty out of ghetto bums

Fightin' for my King in the city slums

Salvation man