When the mandolin sang like a bird on the wing

In the hands of Bill Monroe

When Chet played guitar like a walk in the park

Like a prodigal son coming home


They spoke into being the work of their hands 

From the void of the wire and the wood

And they stood on the stage 

And they sang and they played

And they said that it was good


Let there be light

Let there be love

Let there be light, let there be love

Let there be music


Now, Arron's a preacher and I play guitar

And Jim, he can tune up your Ford

David's in law school for 800 years 

For the sake of the sick and the poor


The music we make is the salt of the earth

The work of our hands is the light of the world

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine


Let there be light

Let there be love

Let there be light, let there be love

Let there be music


When your spirit is hovering over the deep

In the image of God just look into that darkness and speak

Let there be light, let there be love, let there be music


So let the mandolin play 

Like a mother's embrace

Let the fiddle be warm as a smile

Let the guitar be bright 

As a friend at your side

When you're lost on a long lonely mile


Let the music be sweet 

As the washing of feet

And as gentle as a kiss

Let the love that we feel 

Be as light as a reel

And as real as the love we give


Let there be light

Let there be love

Let there be light, let there be love

Let there be music