The Returning Prodigal

Representative Text

1 The long-lost son, with streaming eyes,
From folly just awake,
Reviews his wanderings with surprise;
His heart begins to break.

2 I starve, he cries, nor can I bear
The famine in this land,
While servants of my father share
The bounty of his hand.

3 With deep repentance I'll return,
And seek my father's face;
Unworthy to be called a son,
I'll ask a servant's place.

4 Far off the father saw him move--
In pensive silence mourn--
And quickly ran, with arms of love,
To welcome his return.

5 Through all the courts the tidings flew,
And spread the joy around;
The angels tuned their harps anew--
The long-lost son is found!

Source: The Voice of Praise: a collection of hymns for the use of the Methodist Church #426

Author: L. H. Sigourney

Sigourney, Lydia, née Huntley. This distinguished name stood at the head of the female poets of America a generation ago, and is still well remembered. Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1791, she conducted a school in the same town from 1809 to 1814, when she removed to Hartford, where she was married to Charles Sigourney in 1819. Most of her subsequent life was spent at Hartford, and she died there, June 10, 1865. Her first publication was Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse, 1815. This was followed by 58 additional works. A thorough exploration of these, or of such of them are poetical, would be necessary to trace her hymns with accuracy. They, however, are more numerous than important. Many have been used in the older collections; some are… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The long lost [prodigal] son, with streaming eyes
Title: The Returning Prodigal
Author: L. H. Sigourney
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Refrain First Line: I'll die no more for bread
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

SWANWICK


[The long lost son, with streaming eyes]


AZMON

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) adapted AZMON from a melody composed by Carl G. Gläser in 1828. Mason published a duple-meter version in his Modern Psalmist (1839) but changed it to triple meter in his later publications. Mason used (often obscure) biblical names for his tune titles; Azmon, a city south of C…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 73 of 73)
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A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #430

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #249

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A Manual of Devotion and Hymns for the House of Refuge, City of New York #199

A New and Choice Selection of Hymns for Social Worship and Pravate Devotion #d92

Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d122

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Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship #371

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d680

Family and Social Melodies #d324

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Free Methodist Hymnal #452

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #S34

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #S34

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Hymn-Book of the Evangelical Association #273

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #414

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #414

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #324

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #324

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Hymns for Social Worship #159

Hymns for the Use of the Brethren in Christ #d462

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Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #430

Hymns of Zion #d198

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Hymns #205

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Hymns #205

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Hymns #205

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Methodist Social Hymn Book #93

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New Hymn and Tune book #23d

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New Union Hymns #456

Prison Hymn Book #d332

Select Hymns #d432

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Select Hymns #138

Songs for Young and Old #d148

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Songs of Devotion for Christian Assocations #535

The American Hymn and Tune Book #d740

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The Baptist Psalmody #429

The Book of Worship #d486

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The Centenary Singer #135

The Christian Companion; or, Camp-Meeting Hymn Book #d80

The Church Hymn Book #d929

The Evangelical Hymn and Tune Book #d707

The Gospel Praise Book #d423

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The Gospel Psalmist #327

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The Harp #460

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The Harp. 2nd ed. #a460

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The Heart and Voice #155d

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The Hymn Book of the Free Methodist Church #384

The Lesser Hymnal #d304

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The Lyrica #539

The New and Improved Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d121

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The New Jubilee Harp #411

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The New Jubilee Harp #411

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The New Song #60b

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The Psalmist #481

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The Psalmist #481

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The Psalmody #428

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The Revivalist #318

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The Sabbath School #24

The Southern Psalmist #d787

The Southern Psalmist. New ed. #d827

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The Tribute of Praise and Methodist Protestant Hymn Book #245

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The Tribute of Praise #245

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The Tribute of Praise #245

The Union Harp and Revival Chorister. Rev ed. #d351

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The Voice of Praise #426

Village Hymns #369

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Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #369

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Village hymns for social worship, selected and original #369

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Village Hymns for Social Worship, Selected and Original #369

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The Jewelled Crown #111

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New Hymn and Tune Book #23d

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The Wesleyan Methodist Hymnal #452

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