My son, dost thou dwell in a coun­try afar,
Away from thy youth’s bea­con light?
Above thee is shin­ing fair Beth­le­hem’s star
To guide thy steps home­ward to­night.

Refrain

Oh, come and thy sor­row shall cease;
Oh come and find par­don and peace;
Thy Fa­ther is wait­ing to wel­come thee home,
Is wait­ing, O wan­der­er, come.

My son, art thou hun­gry with no one to care
Or help in thy bit­ter dis­tress?
Thy Father’s hired ser­vants have bread and to spare;
Return, and thy wan­d’ring con­fess.

Refrain

My son, art thou wea­ry of bond­age to sin?
The door of thy home is ajar;
Thy Fa­ther is yearn­ing His lost one to win,
He se­eth thee com­ing afar.

Refrain

My son, He is rea­dy with robe and with ring,
The to­kens that thou art for­giv’n.
Oh, claim thy in­her­it­ance, child of the King,
And share in the rich­es of Heav’n.

Refrain