Tarbox Ramblers
The Prodigal Son


transmitted by The Tarbox Ramblers

This was song was written by the Reverend Robert Wilkins,  and later done by
The Rolling Stones,  who may have taken composer's credit.   The version by
Reverend Wilkins had about 22 verses,  and took up most or all of the side of
the LP it first appeared on.  The Stones edited it considerably,  and
we use the verses they kept when we play it live.



The poor boy took his father's gold,
And started down the road,
With all he had he started down the road
Going out in this world,  whereabout nobody knows
and that'll be some way to get along

The poor boy spent all he had,
A famine come in the land
Said  "believe I'll go and hire me to some man,
And that'll be a way to get along."

The man said "I'll give give you a job
For to feed my swine."
The boy stood there,  hung his head and cried.
That ain't no way to get along.

Said "Believe I'll ride,
Believe I'll go back home,
Down that road just as far as I can go,
That'll be a way to get along."

The father said "I see my son, coming after me,
Coming home to me."
The father ran and fell down on his knees
He sang and prayed,  "the lord had mercy on me."
And that's the way for us to get along

The poor boy stood there,  hung his head and cried,
"Father will you look on me as a child?
That's the way for us to get along."

The father said to the eldest son,
"Kill the fatted calf,  call the family around.
You kill that calf and call the family around;
My son was lost,  now he is found,
And that's the way for us to get along."