The Cyber Hymnal ‎#15967

15967. Mother's Prayers

1 Behold that mother’s wayward boy,
Preparing home to leave;
He does not heed her loving words,
Or fail her heart to grieve.
On roving bent, he little now
For her affection cares,
And cruelly forsakes her, yet
She follows with her prayers.

Refrain:
Gone, gone, she knows not where,
And yet her love he shares;
Forgotten never, he’s followed ever
By a faithful mother’s prayers.

2 The months roll on, she anxious waits,
But tidings do not come;
Engrossed in sin, the erring boy
Sends not a message home.
O does he live? And if he does,
She knows not how he fares;
What dread suspense! yet faithful still,
She upward sends her prayers. [Refrain]

3 Think you the God of all the earth
Hears not that mother’s cry?
Think you He will not find her boy
Ere he in sin shall die?
Tho’ he may roam in many lands,
And fall by sinful snares,
Will God not surely honor yet
That faithful mother’s prayers? [Refrain]

4 Perchance some soul, this very hour,
Recalls an early vow;
Perchance some mother, far away,
To God is praying now;
O, weary, heavy burdened one,
On Jesus cast your cares;
And find the heav’nly refuge thro’
A faithful mother’s prayer. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: Behold that mother’s wayward boy
• Title: Mother's Prayers
• Author: Francis Augustus Blackmer (1887, alt.)
• Refrain First Line: Gone, gone, she knows not where
• Language: English
• Source: Harvest Bells No. 1 by William E. Penn (Cincinnati: John Church, 1887)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [Behold that mother’s wayward boy]
• Composer: Francis Augustus Blackmer
• Key: G Major or modal
• Copyright: Public Domain