The Prodigal Son

Out in the wilderness, wild and drear

Author: Thomas O. Chisholm
Tune: [Out in the wilderness wild and drear]
Published in 28 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. 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.

Refrain
Back to my Father and home,
Back to my Father and home,
I will arise and go
Back to my Father and home.

2. 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. [Refrain]

3. 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. [Refrain]

4. 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. [Refrain]

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #5682

Author: Thomas O. Chisholm

Thomas O. Chisholm was born in Franklin, Kentucky in 1866. His boyhood was spent on a farm and in teaching district schools. He spent five years as editor of the local paper at Franklin. He was converted to Christianity at the age of 26 and soon after was business manager and office editor of the "Pentecostal Herald" of Louisville, Ky. In 1903 he entered the ministry of the M. E. Church South. His aim in writing was to incorporate as much as Scripture as possible and to avoid flippant or sentimental themes. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916)… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Out in the wilderness, wild and drear
Title: The Prodigal Son
Author: Thomas O. Chisholm
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Back to my father and home
Publication Date: 1914
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #5682
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The Cyber Hymnal #5682

Include 27 pre-1979 instances
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