The Prodigal Son Suite

One of our favorite, and most passionate Contemporary Christian Music artists of the 1970’s and early 1980’s was Keith Green. Sadly, he was tragically killed in an airplane crash in 1982. However, his music lived on in our lives and we made sure our kids heard it too! One thing that we tried to teach them was, when listening to music, to listen to the words…no matter how young they were, they needed to know that the lyrics were important. So, we’d be on a road trip and they would get a verbal repeat of the words of the songs we listened to . . . it made for easy story telling. This is one of those songs. The music stirs our hearts like almost nothing else, and combined with this well known parable, it’s a song . . . more like a symphony . . . that just never grows old.
Personally, I can't read these words without hearing the pride . . . the sadness . . . the lostness . . . and the great rejoicing that is felt in the music itself, but I hope that even if you've never heard the music, the lyrics will touch your heart today.

I was done hoeing
Out in the fields for the day.
I was thinking of going,
I had to leave right away.
My life was just fading
and oh,I felt so alone.
The nearest young maiden
Was a full day’s ride from home.

My father was reading
The holy books in his room.
My heart was just bleeding,
I knew I had to go soon.
He smiled and pointed
To and old wooden chair.
I wanted to hold him
But then I just wouldn’t dare.

I said, “Father, there’s so much to know
There’s a world of things to see
And I’m ready to go make a life for myself.
If you give what is mine
I will go if I could have your blessing.
But if you won’t bless my journey,
I’m going to leave anyway.”

“Son, I’ve always tried my best for you
And if you must be leaving home
Then go with the blessing of God.”

Not too many days later,
I was well on my way,
I met a traveling stranger
Who seemed to have much to say.
He told me tales of the city
And all the women he’d had.
I asked him, “Wasn’t that sinful?”
He said, “No, it isn’t that bad!”

And then a few days later,
On an old city road,
We were drowning in laughter
And we had women to hold.
And this went on quite a long time,
My father gave me a lot.
But when my pockets were empty
My friends all left me to rot.

Then a famine hit and drained the land,
Everywhere I looked I saw starvation
And a job was not to be found.
I wandered through the city streets
Competing for the food of common beggars.
Until then I’d never known hunger
But now I wasn’t too proud.

I finally found some employment
Feeding pigs on a farm.
I wasn’t treated to kind,
I had to sleep in the barn.
I had to eat with the swine,
The bread I ate was like stone.
It didn’t take too much time
Till I was dreaming of home.

Oh the servants there are better fed;
If I could only have what my father gives them
I would truly need nothing more.
So I will go and say to him,
“I’m no longer worthy to be in your family,
Will you take me as your servant
And let me live with them.”

It didn’t’ take too long to pack my things
I left with only what I wore
And I prayed that I still had a home.

When I was near home,
In sight of the house,
My father just starred,
Dropped open his mouth.
He ran up the road
and fell to my feet
and cried, and cried.

“Father, I’ve sinned,
Having the shame.
I’m no longer worthy
To wear you name.
I’ve learned that my home
Is right where you are.
Oh father, take me.”

“Bring the best robe,
put it on my son.
Shoes for his feet,
Hurry, put them on!
This is my son
Who I thought had died;
Prepare a feast,
For my son’s alive!

I prayed and prayed,
Never heard a sound.
My son was lost –
Oh thank you, God, He’s found!
My son was dead
And he’s now alive.
Prepare a feast
For my son’s alive!

My son was dead, my son was lost,
My son’s returned in the hands of God!”

The photo is of a Statue of the Prodigal Son,
taken at Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California
(used by permission)

Keith Green's music was digitally reproduced in 1999 by Sparrow Records (Bill Maxwell).
The Prodigal Son is one of the songs in his CD, The Ministry Years 1977-1979 and is available in Christian Book/Music Stores and at amazon.com