A short gospel blues inspired by the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16). This story reminds us that grace is not earned by hours worked, but given freely. In God’s vineyard, mercy does not follow a clock.
Scripture Matthew 20:1–16
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Lyrics
Verse 1
Woke up early mornin’, sun barely touch the ground
Yeah, woke up early mornin’, sun barely touch the ground
Man said, “Come work my vineyard,” said, “I’ll pay you fair and sound”
Verse 2
Went back at the third hour, still lookin’ for some hands
Yeah, went back at the third hour, still lookin’ for some hands
Said, “You work what time you can, I’ll pay you like a man”
Verse 3
Noon bell was ringin’, shadows short and thin
Yeah, noon bell was ringin’, shadows short and thin
He said, “There’s room for everyone, come on in”
Verse 4
Sun was fallin’ low, day almost done
Yeah, sun was fallin’ low, day almost done
He called the late ones sayin’, “There’s still work to be done”
Verse 5
Worked just one short hour, sweat barely on my brow
Yeah, worked just one short hour, sweat barely on my brow
Didn’t know that payday mercy was waitin’ now
Verse 6
Paymaster called us up, last ones stood in line
Yeah, paymaster called us up, last ones stood in line
Gave us a full day’s wages, same old silver dime
Verse 7
Early birds got angry, said, “That just ain’t right”
Yeah, early birds got angry, said, “That just ain’t right”
“We carried all the burden in the heat and light”
Verse 8
Owner said, “Friend, I did you no wrong”
Yeah, owner said, “Friend, I did you no wrong”
“A deal is a deal, now listen to my song”
Verse 9
“Is it evil in your eye ‘cause my heart is kind?”
Yeah, is it evil in your eye ‘cause my heart is kind?
Grace don’t punch a time clock, love don’t count the time”
Verse 10
First gonna be last, last gonna be first
Yeah, first gonna be last, last gonna be first
Kingdom ain’t about earnin’, it’s about quenchin’ thirst
Verse 11
Same pay for the weary, same pay for the few
Yeah, same pay for the weary, same pay for the few
Ain’t about how long you labored, it’s who called you
Verse 12 (Outro)
So don’t measure mercy by the hours you’ve done
Yeah, don’t measure mercy by the hours you’ve done
In the vineyard of the Lord, we all live by grace, not by the sun
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