Prodigal Song
Prodigal Son's Longing: A Father's Heartache
Lyrics
Henry loves the ballpark
Henry has an affinity for the ballpark.
But lately he ain’t coming round
Recently, Henry has not been visiting the ballpark.
Things have been so different
There has been a noticeable change in circumstances.
Since his youngest boy left town
Henry's youngest son has left the town.
Fighting seem so harmless
Fighting within the family seems harmless.
Families sometimes disagree
Families sometimes have disagreements.
It’s hard to know the reason
The reason for the disagreement is unclear.
Why he finally chose to leave
Uncertainty about why the youngest son chose to leave.
But he’s gone away
The youngest son has left.
And his father waits
Henry, the father, is waiting for his son to return.
And he is watching and he is hoping
The father is watching and hoping for his son's return.
Though his eyes are weary, his arms are still open
Despite weariness, the father's arms are open to his son.
And his prayer, so softly spoken
The father's prayer is softly spoken, asking his son to come home.
Please come home
A plea for the son to come back home.
Now Henry sits and wonders
Henry reflects on his porch, wondering about his son.
In that front porch rocking chair
Henry wonders if his son remembers the family's love.
Does his boy remember
Questioning if the son recalls shared family love.
All the love the family shared
Does the son feel cold and lonely out there?
And is he cold
Out there alone
Concern for the son being alone and cold.
And he is watching and he is hoping
The father continues to watch and hope for the son's return.
Though his eyes are weary, his arms are still open
Despite weariness, the father's arms are still open.
And his prayer, so softly spoken
The father's prayer, softly spoken, repeats the plea to come home.
Please come home
A repeated plea for the son to come back home.
To your seat at the table
Invitation for the son to return to the family table.
To your father who weeps
Reference to the father's emotional state, weeping for his son.
Every night in sleepless dreams
The father experiences nightly dreams of longing to see his son.
He longs to see
The father desires to see his son's face in younger, happier times.
His face in younger skin
The image of the son running down the driveway is missed.
Running down the driveway again.
A final expression of the longing for the son's return.
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