Once I was pure as dews that fall
From the morn­ing clouds above.
Now I am held in the world’s dark thrall,
Away from the Fa­ther’s love.

Refrain

Then pray for your boy to­night!
Tonight, oh, pray for me!
Pray God to give your boy the light,
To lead him to Hea­ven and thee.

Weary the world, and dark and wild,
And with ma­ny a fa­tal snare,
As on­ward sweeps the surg­ing tide,
Away from God and pray­er.

Refrain

Mother, my heart is hard and cold,
And is blight­ed with grief and care;
Pray for your boy as oft of old,
When a child be­side your chair.

Refrain

Tho’ in the toils of sin your boy
Yet is wan­der­ing far from home,
Often he yearns for the old­en joy,
Before he be­gan to roam.

Refrain