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Introduction
Imagine a song that feels like a journey into the heart of an old Bible story, but told with a warmth that makes you feel like you’re hearing it for the first time. That’s what “The Fourth Man” by The Statler Brothers does—it takes you on a trip back to the fiery furnace, not just through the words, but with a melody that wraps around you like a comforting blanket.
The Statler Brothers were known for their rich harmonies and storytelling, and “The Fourth Man” is a prime example of how they could take a biblical tale and turn it into something that feels both timeless and intimately familiar. The song recounts the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow to a king’s idol. But instead of being consumed by the flames, a mysterious fourth figure appears with them, protecting them from harm. It’s a story of faith and divine intervention, and the Statlers deliver it with a sincerity that’s impossible to ignore.
What makes this song stand out is not just its narrative, but the way it connects with the listener on a deeper level. It’s more than a retelling—it’s a reminder of the power of faith and the presence of something greater in our lives, even when we’re facing our own furnaces. The blend of the Statlers’ voices gives the song an almost hymn-like quality, making it resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve been through the fire and come out the other side.
Whether you’re familiar with the story or hearing it anew, “The Fourth Man” offers a comforting reminder that we’re never truly alone, no matter how intense the flames might seem.
Video
Lyrics
Here is a story
From the good book we know
A story ’bout a miracle
That happened long ago
We hope that you’ll take courage
When temptation you meet
There’s somebody watching you
Who’s strong when you’re weak
They wouldn’t bend
They held on to the will of God so we are told
They wouldn’t bow
They would not bow their knee to the idol made of gold
They wouldn’t burn
They were protected by the fourth man in the fire
They wouldn’t bend
They wouldn’t bow, they wouldn’t burn
Now the prophet Danial tells about
Three men who walked with God
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Before the wicked king they stood
And the king demanded them
Bound and thrown
In the firey furnace that day
But the fire was so hot
That the men were slain
Who forced them on their way
Now when the few were thrown in
And the king rose up
To witness this awful fate
He began to tremble at what he saw
And in astonished tones he spake
Did we not cast three men bound
Into the midst of that fire
Well though I see four men unhurt
Unbound and walking down there
There’s Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
An’ the fiery coals they trod
And the form of the fourth man
That I see is like the Son of God
They wouldn’t bend
They held on to the will of God so we are told
They wouldn’t bow
They would not bow their knee to the idol made of gold
They wouldn’t burn
They were protected by the fourth man in the fire
They wouldn’t bend
They wouldn’t bow, they wouldn’t burn
They wouldn’t bend
They held on to the will of God so we are told
They wouldn’t bow
They would not bow their knee to the idol made of gold
They wouldn’t burn
They were protected by the fourth man in the fire
They wouldn’t bend
They wouldn’t bow, they wouldn’t burn
They wouldn’t bend
They held on to the will of God so we are told
They wouldn’t bow
They would not bow their knee to the idol made of gold
They wouldn’t burn
They were protected by the fourth man in the fire
They wouldn’t bend
They wouldn’t bow, they wouldn’t burn