O why are you cling­ing to earth’s fad­ing flow­ers,
Tho’ frag­rant its blos­soms and love­ly its bow­ers?
The cold breath of win­ter will sweep them away,
Then why from your fa­ther­land,
O why will you stay?

Refrain

Why will you stay? Je­sus calls you to­day,
Your poor ach­ing hearts for rest are long­ing still,
And yet in His mer­cy you may rest if you will.

O why are you dream­ing of hopes that are frail,
That die like the leaf­let when tossed by the gale?
The heart’s wea­ry long­ings the world can­not still,
And yet in the Sav­ior you may rest if you will.

Refrain

O why are you slight­ing the voice of the Lord,
Refusing to fol­low His life giv­ing Word?
No love like the Sav­ior’s your lone hearts can fill,
That love is in­vit­ing you to rest if you will.

Refrain

O why are you wait­ing when time flies apace?
Take heed that ye spurn not God’s mes­sage of grace;
O trust not the plea­sures that charm to de­ceive,
But come to the Sav­ior and, rep­ent­ing, be­lieve.

Refrain