The nine­ty-nine within the fold,
Are safe from fears and storms of night,
But one is on the mount­ains cold,
’Twill per­ish there—how sad the sight!

Refrain

Go search it out, and bring it home,
No more in dark­ness let it roam;
You’ll find it there in dread­ful plight,
Oh! go and bring it back to­night.

The nine­ty-nine are safe to­day,
They’re all at home, so ful­ly blest,
But one is wan­der­ing far away
Upon the mount­ain’s snowy crest.

Refrain

The nine­ty-nine with care are fed,
And rest with­in the shep­herd’s fold;
But one is starv­ing, near­ly dead,
Upon the mount­ains bare and cold.

Refrain

The shep­herd dear aloud doth weep,
Because one lamb afar doth roam;
The nine­ty-nine he’ll safe­ly keep—
We’ll seek that lamb and bring it home.

Refrain