Lyr Add: Prodigal Son (Dock Boggs)

Subject: Lyr Add: PRODIGAL SON (Dock Boggs, Sara Grey)
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 29 Jun 99 - 11:14 PM

At a sing-around at the Old Songs Festival on Saturday night, I sang "The Prodigal Son" by Dock Boggs, a rhymed version of the biblical parable. Several people (Mudcatters mainly) asked me for the lyrics. Here they are:

Prodigal Son
(Dock Boggs)

(Well) I believe I'll go back home
I believe I'll go back home
I believe I'll go back home
Acknowledge I done wrong


When I left my native home
Well I was well supplied
Made a mistake when (and) I did go
Now I'm dissatisfied

I'll go back to my father's house
I'll fall down on face
Say I am unworthy
I seek a servant's place

Well I'll go back to my father's house
To the place I love so dear
There they had bread to eat
While I am starving here

Well Father seen him comin'
He did greet him with a smile
Throw his arms around him sayin'
Here's my wanderin' child

Father said to his servant
Go and kill the fatted calf
Invite all the friends and relatives
My son's come home at last

Well all were seated at the table
All sorrow had passed
My father's heart was filled with joy
His son's come home at last

Well, Eldest son he was jealous
I believe I heard him say
Give my brother his portion
'Cause I never went away

Father said to his Eldest son
You have been both good and kind
Not a calf have I given thee
But all I have is thine

^^

The song is usually credited to Dock Boggs (1898-1971), who actually learned it from his brother-in-law, Lee Hunsucker, around 1930 or so. (But everyone who performs it today traces their version back to the Dock Boggs recording). Lee Hunsucker was a holiness preacher with many sacred songs in his repertoire. Dock's version was recorded by Mike Seeger in 1963, and issued on Folkways Records; this version has been recently reissued on Dock Boggs: His Folkways Years 1963-1968, Smithsonian Folkways SF 40108. I was mostly influenced by the version recorded by Sara Grey on her Harbourtown recording Sara. Yet another recording can be found on Rick Lee's Natick, Waterbug WBG0016. All three of these recordings are accompanied by banjo; I sing it a cappella. My timing/rhythm is most like that of Sara Grey's version. The recorded versions also vary in the repetitions of the chorus: Sara Grey repeats it between every verse, while Dock Boggs puts the chorus only after verses 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8. I like to repeat it every time myself.

--Cbarlie Baum

Subject: Lyr Add: PRODIGAL SON (Dock Boggs)^^
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 01:37 PM

I realize that the version I've given above has a lot of Sara Grey's variants in it. (Listening to her sing it was what made me decide to add it to my repertoire.) Dock Boggs' original has some differences. He sings it this way:

Prodigal Son
(Dock Boggs)

When I left my father's house
I was well supplied
I made a mistake and I did wrong
And I'm dissatisfied

I believe I'll go back home
I believe I'll go back home
I believe I'll go back home
And acknowledge I've done wrong

I'll go back to my father's house
I'll fall down on face
Say that I'm unworthy
I'll seek a servant's place

I'll go back to my father's house
The place I love so dear
For there they have plenty to eat
And I'm a-starving here

Father seen him coming
He met him with a smile
Threw his arms around him
Says this is my wandering child

Father said to his servants
Go kill a fatted calf
Invite both friends and relatives
My son's come home at last

Banquet's in procession
All sorrow had passed
Father's heart was filled with joy
His son come home at last

The elder son was jealous
I believe I heard him say
Give my brother his portion
I never went away

Father said to his elder son
You've been both good and kind
Not a calf I'll give unto thee
But all I have is thine
^^

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Chris Seymour
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 10:50 PM

Thanks much, Charlie -- great song. I remember the chorus melody, and I see all the various sources for the tune, if need be - especially since I play banjo and can imagine all of those folks doing neat things with the song on their banjos... but, out of curiosity and laziness, are the verses sung to the same tune as the chorus?

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From:
Date: 30 Jun 99 - 11:37 PM

Chorus and verses have a different tune. And each of the three noted recordings has a very different banjo style from the others.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From:
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 10:57 AM

Thank You Charlie. I am familar with the Rolling Stones version. I knew it was a traditional folk song and they took the gist of the song and did their own thing with it. I am new to computers & the net, as you can see with the handle I choose and haven't changed yet,and I'm astonished at what's out there. Again thank You for the education abiut the song and lyrics. Tom S.

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 06:59 PM

Information about Boggs and the lyrics to all his songs: click here

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: stonejohn
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 07:19 PM

Never heard this version. Got the melody anywhere?

Thanks, sj

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: stonejohn
Date: 06 Dec 99 - 07:50 AM

Really would like to know about the tune to this if anyone can help.

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 02:08 AM

Stonejohn--

My first post above mentioned three sources for Prodigal Son: Dock Boggs, Sara Grey, and Rick Lee. The Boggs and Grey recordings may be obtained through Cmasco (click on "help support the mudcat" above); Rick Lee can be found at www.waterbug.com or through your favorite folk-music recording source. Also, if you click on the green clicky thing above, the Mudcat music store will bring you to a recording of the piece by Fay Baird, who is a nice banjo player and one of the "Short Sisters".

-Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 08 Dec 99 - 12:53 AM

Don't forget to check out the Stones' source, Reverend Robert Wilkins. His version is stunning.
Rick

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Stewie
Date: 08 Dec 99 - 01:35 AM

I agree, Rick, Wilkins' 'Prodigal Son' is great. It can be found on Various Artists 'Blues at Newport 1959-64' Vanguard VCD 115/16. Most of his excellent (and secular) pre-war output is on Robert Wilkins 'The Original Rolling Stone' Yazoo CD 1077.

Regards, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Son lyrics "man who'll never return?,mta?,
From:
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 11:10 AM

mr. Boggs, you've helped me last fall with lyrics and you were quick,efficient,and added knowledge to what I wanted to know.If at all possible,I'm lookig for a '60's folk song from the Boston area,I'm not sure of the title,I believe it's,He'll never return,[it might be:mta,streets of Boston, charlie of the MTA]it was a popular song about a man who rode the mbta trolley's in the streets of Boston.Any help about the artist,song title,or lyrics whould be of great help. I'm playing a wedding for a bus driver in Boston and he requested the song. Thank You for the time,Tom Scola [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 11:18 AM

Tom, if you punch in MTA in the box at the top right (Digitrad Lyrics Search) of this page, you will find the lyrics of the song. It was a rewrite of the "Ship that Never Returned" (or "Wreck of Old 97") by Jackie Steiner and Bess Hawkes for Walter O'Brien (Progressive Party candidate) in 1948. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 01 - 02:51 PM

Also see lyrics posted by Roger in Baltimore here (click) (two versions), and by Dicho here (click)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Dock Boggs' Prodigal Son lyrics
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 12:02 PM

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