For the list of Gospel passages used in Years A,B and C click here
Lent Lent 4 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Lent Lent 4 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The Prodigal Son - The Two Sons (YC No 174)
The Prodigal Son - The Two Sons (YC No 174)
Pharisees were grumbling loudly;
Pharisees were grumbling loudly;
“Jesus, you should be ashamed!
“Jesus, you should be ashamed!
You should never welcome sinners!
You should never welcome sinners!
Rabbis don’t do this.” they claimed.
Rabbis don’t do this.” they claimed.
So he turned to them and answered
So he turned to them and answered
With a story full of truths;
With a story full of truths;
Telling them about a family
Telling them about a family
And behaviour of two youths.
And behaviour of two youths.
Once, two sons lived with their father;
Once, two sons lived with their father;
One, the younger, came and said,
One, the younger, came and said,
“Give me what I will inherit.
“Give me what I will inherit.
I can’t wait until you’re dead.”
I can’t wait until you’re dead.”
So the father full of anguish,
So the father full of anguish,
Quite dismayed, gave his consent.
Quite dismayed, gave his consent.
Then the son cashed in his assets;
Then the son cashed in his assets;
Packed his bag and off he went.
Packed his bag and off he went.
In a distant land he squandered
In a distant land he squandered
All his money recklessly.
All his money recklessly.
Now, a beggar in a pig sty,
Now, a beggar in a pig sty,
Thought he suffered needlessly.
Thought he suffered needlessly.
In his squalor he decided
In his squalor he decided
To return from whence he came;
To return from whence he came;
Say he’d sinned against his father;
Say he’d sinned against his father;
Bear the guilt and all the shame.
Bear the guilt and all the shame.
But his father, when he saw him,
But his father, when he saw him,
Joy, compassion filled his soul.
Joy, compassion filled his soul.
He ran out, embraced and kissed him;
He ran out, embraced and kissed him;
Lost all poise and self-control.
Lost all poise and self-control.
“Father, I have sinned against you;
“Father, I have sinned against you;
Have no right to be your son.”
Have no right to be your son.”
But his father would not listen;
But his father would not listen;
Told his slaves what should be done.
Told his slaves what should be done.
“Quickly! Bring a robe, my best one,
“Quickly! Bring a robe, my best one,
For his finger, find a ring.
For his finger, find a ring.
Bring the fatted calf and kill it.
Bring the fatted calf and kill it.
We must celebrate and sing!
We must celebrate and sing!
For this son of mine was dying;
For this son of mine was dying;
In his folly, he was bound.
In his folly, he was bound.
He is back to life and with us.
He is back to life and with us.
He was lost but now is found.”
He was lost but now is found.”
Now the elder son was working
Now the elder son was working
On his father’s farm that day.
On his father’s farm that day.
Coming home, he heard the music,
Coming home, he heard the music,
“What has happened here today?”
“What has happened here today?”
Servants said their master ordered
Servants said their master ordered
That the fatted calf be killed;
That the fatted calf be killed;
Thankful for his son’s home-coming;
Thankful for his son’s home-coming;
All his dreams had been fulfilled.
All his dreams had been fulfilled.
Wildly angry with his father,
Wildly angry with his father,
He refused to go inside.
He refused to go inside.
So his father came out, pleading -
So his father came out, pleading -
For a Jew – undignified!
For a Jew – undignified!
“I have slaved for you with rigour;
“I have slaved for you with rigour;
Never disobeyed your law.
Never disobeyed your law.
Yet I’ve never been rewarded.
Yet I’ve never been rewarded.
You accept what I deplore!”
You accept what I deplore!”
“My beloved Son” he answered,
“My beloved Son” he answered,
“You are always here with me.
“You are always here with me.
Everything I own is yours now.”
Everything I own is yours now.”
He entreated lovingly.
He entreated lovingly.
“We should surely be rejoicing;
“We should surely be rejoicing;
Let our happiness abound.
Let our happiness abound.
Your dead brother is alive now!
Your dead brother is alive now!
He was lost but now is found.”
He was lost but now is found.”
Suggestion.
Suggestion.
As there are 8 verses, each having 8 lines (After all it is a long parable!), there maybe too much to be sung straight through. However, I believe it is important, in maintaining the integrity of the story, for it all to be used. I suggest the singing could be separated by an exposition of the parable. With 5 verses dealing with the younger son and 3 verses dealing with the older son, both are long enough to be sung by themselves but at different times during the meeting/gathering/worship service.
As there are 8 verses, each having 8 lines (After all it is a long parable!), there maybe too much to be sung straight through. However, I believe it is important, in maintaining the integrity of the story, for it all to be used. I suggest the singing could be separated by an exposition of the parable. With 5 verses dealing with the younger son and 3 verses dealing with the older son, both are long enough to be sung by themselves but at different times during the meeting/gathering/worship service.
Tune Hyfrydol AHB 148(ii), 173, 439 TiS 217(i), 233,517 Also Converse/Erie (Not in AHB or TiS) Presbyterian Hymnary 701
Download & listen to the tune
174.pdf Mus