Scripture Verse

Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. Luke 15:23–4

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Frank L. Bris­tow, in Tri­umph­ant Songs No. 2, by Ed­win O. Ex­cell (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: E. O. Ex­cell, 1889) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Bris­tow (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Joyfully march along, and shout the song
To the earth’s re­mot­est bound,
Salvation’s come, the wan­der­er’s home.
The lost one now is found.

Rejoice! Rejoice! with heart and voice;
Repeat the wel­come sound!

Refrain

With songs of joy, your tongues em­ploy,
And re­peat the wel­come sound,
Salvation’s come! The wan­der­er’s home,
The lost one now is found!

Wanderer far away from love to­day,
In the sea of sin so low,
A call from home now bids you Come,
Arise and say, I’ll go.
Your va­cant chair is wait­ing there,
And rai­ment white as snow!

Refrain

Joyfully an­gels bring the sig­net ring,
Of a Fa­ther’s par­don­ing grace,
And roy­al fare, they now pre­pare,
Before His smil­ing face,
Away with fears! away with tears!
Receive His fond em­brace!

Refrain

Heavenly home! sweet home!
How sweet to roam
Thro’ thy realm of beau­ty rare,
With an­gel throng, join in a song
Of joy be­yond com­pare.
Re­deem­er! King! for­ev­er sing
The loved ones ga­thered there!

Refrain