Source: “Sacred Scotch Solos" by Alexander Halliday
Also provided by Pastor Peter Smith, on one side of a double-sided sheet entitled “Halliday’s Scotch Hymns”, with a footnote “Copies can be obtained from Evangelist Seth Sykes, 363 Springburn Road, Glasgow, Scotland”.
Date: Circa 1920?
Tune: by Alexander Halliday
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When doon life’s rugged steps I ran, on the dark, broad road o’ sin
Ne’er thinkin’ when the nicht should come the door wad close at e’en
I heard a sma’ voice say tae me “My son, my son, return
Wull ye gang on in ruin’s path, an’ a Faither’s love aye spurn?”
Chorus
Come hame, come hame, ye’re welcome noo
Ye’re fauts wull ne’er be seen
Sae tak’ the haun can guide ye
Tae ye’re Faither’s hoose at e’en
I stopped a wee to think wha spoke sic kindly words to me
An’ there I saw a Saviour’s love sae lang had followed me
His airms were stretched, His han’s were torn, the tear was in His e’e
While the bluid sprang thro’ His thorned broo, He seemed to say to me
It wis that look that broke my hairt, I fell doon on my knee
An’ cried oot :Lord, forgie me noo, this nicht I’ll gang wi’ ye”
The burden o’ my hert’s row’d aff, He gied me een to see
“It’s for sinners a’ baith great an sma” the words He said to me
Say when life’s short day draws tae its close, He’ll come and bring me ben
Tae meet the auld folks there again that left me here lang syne
An’ see the bairns wi’ white robes on an’ freens I’ve langed to see
God grant we a’ may meet at e’en in oor Faither’s hoose to be
