It was way back then in my wicked past that I lived by my guitar
I played in joints of ill repute or any sleazy bar
It was a rough and ready minin' town and guys out there were tough
They could drink and fight and curse and swear, sometimes it got rough

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Please don't breathe a word to Father Claude

One night the bar was full of smoke and booze was flowing free
When a little man walks through the door and he smiles and winks at me
And suddenly a deathly hush it falls upon the bar
Cos nobody had ever seen this little man before

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Could have sworn that man was Father Claude

Now strangers just aren't welcome, they're treated just like beasts
When they saw his collar on back to front, they knew he was a priest
Then someone broke the silence and said, what are you doin' here?
And the little man said, I'll tell ya if you just buy me a beer

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Can't believe that this was Father Claude

Those giants they all gathered round and as they sipped their brew
The little man said, now you see I'm just the same as you
He said, you see on a Sundays there's folks that fill the pews
They hear the gospel all the time and most have got the news

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
They will listen up to Father Claude

He said there was a man called Jesus who walked this road before
He raised the dead an healed the sick and walked among the poor
Now you're just as important in the eyes of the Mighty Lord
He sent me here to bring you in and my name is Father Claude

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
They were saved by the grace of Father Claude (Hallelujah, hallelujah)

The Lord calls folks like me and you like in Bible days of old
Moses had a temper and Paul was mean I'm told
Thomas doubted, John was arrogant, Judas and Peter did wrong
David the warrior, musician, adulterer sure wrote pretty good songs

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
We were all sized up by Father Claude

Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
Oh my lord (Oh my lord)
The truth always gets its Father Claude