De Shepard's Love

1 De Massa ob de sheepfol’,
Dat guard de sheepfol‘ bin,
Lookout in de gloom’rin‘ meadows
Whar de long night rain begin.
So he call to de hirelin’ shepa’d.
“Is my sheep, is dey come in?”
So he call to de hirelin’ shepa’d,
“Is my sheep, is deall all come in?”

Refrain:
For de Massa guards de sheepfol’ bin,
An’ he wan’s to know,
“Is my sheep come in?”
An’ he’s callin’, callin’,
Callin’ softly, softly,
Callin’ for dem all to come gadderin’ in.

2 “O,” den says de hirelin’s shepa’d,
“Dar’s some, deys black an’ then,
An’ some dey’s po’ ol’ weddas,
Dat can’t come home agin,
Day’s los’ an’ good for nuffin’,
But de ress’, dey’s all brung in,”
Day’s los’ an’ good for nuffin’,
But de ress’, dey’s all brung in.” [Refrain]

3 Den de Massa ob de sheepfol’,
Dat guard de sheepfol‘ bin,
Goes down in de gloom’rin‘ meadows,
Whar de long night rain begin,
So he le’ down de ba’s ob de sheepfol’,
Calling’ sof,’ “Come in, come in,”
So he le’ down de ba’s ob de sheepfol’,
Calling’ sof,’ “Come in, come in.” [Refrain]

4 Den up to’ro’ de gloom‘rin’ meadows,
T’ro’ de col’ night rain an’ win’,
An’ up t’ro’ de gloom’rin’ rain paf
Whar de sleet fa’ pie’cin’ thin,
De po’ los’ sheep of de sheepfol’,
Dey all comes gadderin’ in,”
De po’ los’ sheep of de sheepfol’,
Dey all comes gadderin’ in.” [Refrain]

Source: The Finest of the Wheat: hymns new and old, for missionary and revival meetings, and sabbath-schools #115

• MIDI file from The Finest of the Wheat: hymns new and old, for missionary and revival meetings, and sabbath-schools #115