Prodigal Son

Composer: Robert Wilkins   

  Original performer: Rev. Robert Wilkins (c. 1930)
Recording: Olympic Sound Studios, London  June 1968

Performed onstage: 1969-71, 1979
 

 

 

Vocal: Mick Jagger
Acoustic guitar: Keith Richards
Drums: Charlie Watts 
Harmonica: Brian Jones
 

Well a poor boy took his father's bread and started down the road
Took all he had and started down the road
Went out of his world, where God only knows
And that'll be the way to get along

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

Well the man said "I'll give you a job for to feed my swine
I'll give you a job for to feed my swine"
Boy stood there, hung his head and cried
Cause that is no way to get along

Said "I believe I'll ride, believe I'll go back home
Believe I'll ride, believe I'll go back home
Or down the road as far as I can go"
And that'll be the way to get along

Well, father said "See my son coming home to me"
Father ran and fell down on his knees
He said "Sing and praise, Lord have mercy on me"
Mercy

Oh the poor boy stood there, hung his head and cried
Poor boy stood and hung his head and cried
Said "Father, will you look on me as a child?"
Yeah

Well the father said to the eldest son "Kill the fattest calf, call the family round
Kill that calf and call the family round
My son was lost but now he is found
Cause that's the way for us to get along"

Hey