The Prodigal Son (Chisholm)

Out in the wil­der­ness wild and drear

Sadly I’ve wan­dered for ma­ny a year

Driven by hun­ger and filled with fear

I will arise and go;

Backward with sor­row my steps to trace

Seeking my heav­en­ly Fa­ther’s face

Willing to take but a serv­ant’s place

I will arise and go.

Back to my Fa­ther and home

Back to my Fa­ther and home

I will arise and go

Back to my Fa­ther and home.

Why should I per­ish in dark des­pair

Here where there’s no one to help or care

When there is shel­ter and food to spare?

I will arise and go;

Deeply re­pent­ing the wrong I’ve done

Worthy no more to be called a son

Hoping my Fa­ther His child may own

I will arise and go.

Sweet are the me­mo­ries that come to me

Faces of loved ones again I see

Visions of home where I used to be

I will arise and go;

Others have gone who had wan­dered

too

They were for­giv­en

were clothed anew

Why should I lin­ger with home in view?

I will arise and go.

O that I nev­er had gone as­tray!

Life was all ra­di­ant with hope one day

Now all its trea­sures I’ve thrown away

Yet I’ll arise and go;

Something is say­ing

God loves you still

Tho’ you have treat­ed His love so ill

I must not wait

for the night grows chill

I will arise and go.