Crowning Day No. 2 ‎#198

198. Sowing the Tares

1 Sowing the tares, when it might have been wheat,
Sowing of malice, spite, and deceit,
We might have sown roses amid life’s sad cares,
While we were cruelly sowing the tares.

Refrain:
Sowing the tares,
Sowing the tares,
We plead for forgivness for sowing the tares.

2 Sowing the tares, how dark the black sin,
Mingling a curse with life’s sweetest hymn,
And heeding no anguish, no piteous prayers,
While we were so cruelly sowing the tares. [Refrain]

3 Sowing the tares, that bring sorrow down,
Robs of its jewels life’s fairest crown;
And turning to silver the once golden hairs,
Grown whiter and whiter as we sowed the tares. [Refrain]

4 Sowing the tares, under cover of night,
Which might have been wheat all golden and bright;
O heart, turn to God with repentance and pray'r
And plead for forgivness for sowing the tares. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: Sowing the tares, when it might have been wheat
• Title: Sowing the Tares
• Refrain First Line: Sowing the tares
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1896
• Source: Words by a Convict.; "Rescue Songs," From
• Copyright: From "Rescue Songs." Used by per. H. H. Hadley.
• Notes: A prisoner in the Maryland penitentiary, after hearing Mr. D. L. Moody, retired to his cell where he wrote these sad words and handed them to Mr. Moody, who read them at Maryland Institute the same day.

Tune Information

• Name: [Sowing the tares, when it might have been wheat]
• Composer: M. A. Lee

Text Information:

Dedicated to "Brother Will." M. Cell 1069.