As a boy, I heard a mysterious tale about a man who seemed destined for Hell,
He felt the heat on his back and, when that ghost-train rolled past for a ride, sold all he had to sell,
Still alive, but given up for dead, when those storms of mercy rained down on his head,
He said, "Sometimes fear drives a man away until there's nowhere to run, but surely love did not fade away from the prodigal son,"
No.

He caught a train running anywhere bound, slowing down just outside his hometown,
Yes, and when his feet hit that track, man, you know he was never turning back,
And you best believe he left without a sound,
One more tenant in the house of the dead,
You can check in late; they'll always find you in a bed,
Sometimes fear drives a man insane,
He'll curse the day he was born, but love surely will not fade away from the prodigal son.

I met the man crossing over state-line,
He shared his soul as he bargained for mine,
Yes, I laid my head back, like a fool in the devil's lap,
Just a heartbeat from the end of the line,
Now, with those dark clouds that filled me with dread, came a storm of mercy raining down on my head,
Sometimes fear is covered by faith and any deed is undone, but surely love did not fade away from the prodigal son.

As I stood there shivering, the rains of mercy poured down,
Forgiveness drenched the soil of my soul,
You would not turn your back, you would not bolt the door and leave this sinner outside in the cold.

Who believes he's forever faithful'
Well, he's the man most likely quick to judge,
And I tell you he's a brother...the brother of the prodigal son,
As surely as bitterness will tear them apart, their father's forgiveness will pierce each man's heart.

Sometimes pride and fear have their way,
Sometimes love overcomes, but surely love will not fade away from the prodigal son,
I say, surely love will not fade away.

The prodigal son,
From the prodigal son,
From the prodigal son.