| 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 is just fading, and oh I felt so alone,
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| The nearest young maiden was, a full days 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 wouldnt dare.
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| I said, father, theres so much to know,
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| Theres a world of things to see,
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| And Im 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 wont bless my journey, Im gonna leave anyway.
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| Son, Ive always tried my best for you,
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| 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,
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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 hed had,
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| I asked him, wasnt that sinful,
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| He said, no, it isnt 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, 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 beggers,
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| Until then Id never known hunger, but now I wasnt too proud.
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| I finally found some employment, feeding pigs on a farm,
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| I wasnt treated to kindly, 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 didnt 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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| Im 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 didnt 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 site 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 Ive sinned, heaven ashamed,
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| Im no longer worthy to wear your name,
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| Ive 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 sons alive,
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| Ive prayed and prayed, never heard a sound,
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| My son was lost, oh thank you God hes found,
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| My son was dead and hes now alive,
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| Prepare a feast for my sons alive,
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| My son was dead,
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| My son was lost,
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| My sons returned in the hands of god. |