BIG MAN, THE
(Jerry Teifer / Carol Silvers / Gary McFarland)


Dee Mullins - 1969



This is the story of a father and a son
A strange story of ignorance
A story of a man who believed in nothing
But himself

He was a great big man with a little bitty mind
Had a great big mouth, you know the kind
He liked to push folks around, make 'em feel real small
Made him feel bigger, made him feel tall

After church Sunday mornin', some time ago
The unbeliever said, "Son, watch me put on a show"
He cried, "Listen here, people, better lend me an ear 
You church goin' fools, the big man's here"

"Well now, all of you folks who are sayin' your prayers
I'm gonna prove to you now there ain't no one there
If you really believe that there's a power that be
Let him show himself, let him tangle with me"

Then a bolt of lightnin' up and split the sky
And everyone knew then that the fool would die
Yeah, it struck the ground where the big man stood
Struck the ground like they knew it would

But when the smoke cleared away from the lightnin's heat
The big man still stood there on his feet
He shook his fist and he laughed out loud
Laughed at the folks who had kneeled and bowed

He said, "Look there, son", as he turned around
But the boy couldn't hear, for he lay on the ground
The bolt of lightnin' had found its mark
Struck the boy's body and the big man's heart

In the light of day, for all to see
The big man dropped to his bended knee
And prayed to the heavens, and to his surprise
The boy in his arms slowly opened his eyes



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2018)