I was done hoeing, out in the fields for the day,
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I was thinking of going, I had to leave right away,
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My life was just fading, and oh I felt so alone,
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The nearest young maiden was, a full day's ride from home.
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My father was reading, the Holy books in his room,
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My heart was just bleeding, I knew I had to go soon,
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He smiled and pointed at an old wooden chair,
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I wanted to hold him, but then I just wouldn't dare.
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I said, father, there's so much to know,
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There's a world of things to see,
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And I'm ready to go and make a life for myself
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If you give me what is mine,
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I will go, if I can have your blessing,
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But if you won't bless my journey, I'm gonna leave anyway.
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Son, I've always tried my best for you,
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And if you must be leaving home, then go with the blessing of God.
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Not too many days later, I was well on my way,
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I met a travelling stranger, who seemed to have much to say,
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He told me tales of the city, and all the women he'd had,
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I asked him, wasn't that sinful,
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He said, no, it isn't that bad.
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And then a few days later, on an old city road,
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We were drowning in laughter, and we had women to hold,
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And this went on quite a long time, my father gave me a lot,
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But when my pockets were empty, lo! My friends all left me to rot.
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Then a famine hit and drained the land,
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Everywhere I looked I saw starvation, and a job was nowhere to find,
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I wandered through the city streets, competing for the food of common beggars,
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Until then I'd never known hunger, but now I wasn't too proud.
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I finally found some employment, feeding pigs on a farm,
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I wasn't treated to kindly, lo! I had to sleep in the barn,
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I had to eat with the swine,
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The bread I ate was like stone,
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It didn't take too much time until, I was dreaming of home.
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Oh, the servants there are better fed,
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If I could only have what my father gives them,
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I would truly need nothing more.
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Oh, I will go and say to him,
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I'm no longer worthy to be in your family,
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Will you take me as your servant, and let me live with them.
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It didn't take too long to pack my things,
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I left with only what I wore,
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And I prayed that I still had a home.
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I was near home, in sight of the house,
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My father just stared, dropped open his mouth,
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He ran up the road, and fell to my feet, and cried, and cried...
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"Father I've sinned, Heaven ashamed,
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I'm no longer worthy to wear your name,
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I've learned that my home is right where you are,
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Oh Father, take me in."
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"Bring the best robe, put it on my son,
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Shoes for his feet, hurry put them on,
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This is my son who I thought had died,
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Prepare a feast for my son's alive,
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I've prayed and prayed, never heard a sound,
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My son was lost, oh thank you God he's found,
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My son was dead and he's now alive,
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Prepare a feast for my son's alive,
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My son was dead,
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My son was lost,
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My son's returned in the hands of God."
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-----------------
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The Prodigal Son Suite
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| Keith Green |
