The Father Ran to Meet Him

Lyrics

Written by Carl Hicks Jr. / SESAC

[Chorus – Full Choir, Slow and Soulful]
The Father ran to meet him
The Father ran to meet him
The son came home rehearsing
But the Father ran to meet him

Dust upon his garments
Shame upon his name
But love crossed the distance
Before he could explain

The Father ran to meet him
The Father ran to meet him
He came home asking for a servant's place
But the Father called him son

[Bridge – Warm Stacked Harmonies]
Father
I have sinned

Against heaven
And before thee

I am no more worthy
To be called thy son

But before he finished speaking
The Father held him close

Mercy interrupted
Every word he had rehearsed

Bring the robe
Bring the ring

Put the shoes
Back on his feet

[Chorus – Rising Strings and Restrained Brass Hits]
The Father ran to meet him
The Father ran to meet him
The road was still between them
But the Father ran to meet him

No lecture at the doorway
No servant's corner made

The household started moving
When the Father called his name

The Father ran to meet him
The Father ran to meet him
The one they thought was lost forever
Had finally come home

[Bridge – Dynamic Choir Changes]
Best robe
Put it on him

Gold ring
Put it on him

New shoes
Put them on him

Call the house
And celebrate him

This my son
Was dead

And is alive
Again

He was lost
He was lost

And now
He has been found

[Repetitive Run – Slow-Burning Choir Pocket]
Come home
Come home

The Father
Still wants you home

Come home
Come home

You do not have
To stay gone

He saw him
Far away

He saw him
Far away

He ran down
The road

He ran down
The road

Robe ready
Ring ready

Shoes ready
Table ready

Robe ready
Ring ready

The house was ready
To receive him

Lost
Now found

Dead
Alive again

Lost
Now found

The son
Has come home

[Choir Run – Powerful Layered Harmonies]
He wasted the portion
But not the Father's love

He lost his direction
But not the road back home

He smelled like the far country
Still the Father held him

He carried his failure
Still the Father kissed him

Not hired
Still family

Not rejected
Still wanted

Not forgotten
Still remembered

The Father called him son

[Outro – Full Orchestra, Controlled Choir]
He left with his inheritance
And came back with empty hands

But grace was still waiting
At the edge of the land

Before he reached the doorway
Before his speech was done

The Father ran to meet him
And welcomed home his son

The Father ran to meet him
The Father ran to meet him

[Final Choir Hit]
My son has come home!