The Mighty Five

For Miss Mary and the Mighty Four

The Mighty Five

In their white robes with gold sash,
they make their way to their seats,
with the help of rolled walkers and
four-pronged canes.

There’s a lot of empty seats in the choir section.
“A whole lotta death been goin’ on here”
is how Miss Mary would explain it to you.

But the small group don’t fuss none,
they feel mighty just the same on these days
when they sing for the Lord.

You add them all together,
the mighty five, with an average age of 81,
though they all color up their hair to hide the grey.

Small and frail women, they are.
They always take their place every Sunday,
sittin’ behind the pipe organ.

Them ladies, they is so small
the congregation only see the tops of their heads
and their wrinkly arms when they’re
“praisin’ Jesus” and “hallelujahing”.

People don’t pay much mind
to the mighty five of the Metro Baptist Church.

That is...

Until they become so moved by the word of the Bible,
that their souls just can’t take it no more.

That’s the time people take notice.

Them ladies,
the mighty five of the Metro Baptist Church,
they explode like a bomb in song.

It’s like listening to their souls being born again,
straight up.

Sends chills up my body just thinking 'bout it.
It’s a powerful force, their music,
so powerful in fact that the whole congregation
prays even harder God won’t take them out
when the dust starts to flying from the church rafters.

I suppose havin’ all that up inside them,
all that spirit and faith and all.
I suppose that’s what keeps them goin,
that’s their job while they’re here on this earth...

To sing for the Lord every Sunday
at the Metro Baptist Church.


(For Miss Mary)