1 A wandering boy was aweary,
The sun was sinking low,
When tender the voice of a singer,
Unseen, set his heart aglow;
It softened his sin-hardened spirit
As nothing had done before,
For often his mother sung it
To him when the day was o’er.
Refrain:
“O where is my boy tonight?’
Upon the soft breeze rang;
“My heart o’erflows, for I love him he knows,”
The hidden singer sang.
2 He tho’t of the mother who lov’d him,
And tho’t of the stains within,
Then raising his eyes to the Saviour,
He prayed for release from sin;
“I’m coming to thee, dearest mother,”
With joy in his heart, he cried:
“Your wandering boy’s returning,
And Jesus is at my side.” [Refrain]
3 “My soul is no longer aweary,
For I have a song in my heart,
And Jesus is my precious Saviour,
Who never from me will part;
He’ll walk with me all thro’ life’s journey,
My constant companion, friend;
I’ll love him and trust him, serve him,
Till life’s fleeting day shall end.” [Refrain]
Source: New Songs of the Gospel No. 3: for use in religious meetings #73
Pseudonym: James S. Apple.
James Rowe was born in England in 1865. He served four years in the Government Survey Office, Dublin Ireland as a young man. He came to America in 1890 where he worked for ten years for the New York Central & Hudson R.R. Co., then served for twelve years as superintendent of the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society. He began writing songs and hymns about 1896 and was a prolific writer of gospel verse with more than 9,000 published hymns, poems, recitations, and other works.
Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >
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