What Wondrous Love

When I was 23, boozing-oh, boozing-oh
When I was 23, left my home
When I was 23, said ‘Father give to me
My share of what you’re worth, I will roam, I will roam
I kissed my mother’s face and I left home
I wandered far from there, gave my love, gave my love
I wandered far from there, gave my love
She wore a pretty gown, and she let her tresses down
and the boys would gather round, O my love, O my love
the boys would gather round her, my love
But she cared not for me, O my soul, O my soul
No, she cared not for me, O my soul
As I lay fast asleep, she took her leave of me
and left me not a thing, O my soul, O my soul
and left me not a thing, O my soul
As I was sinking down, weary boned, O my soul
As I was sinking down, I missed my home
I set off down the road, for to take a servant’s load
back to my father’s home I would go, I would go
O never more to roam, O my soul
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul
What wondrous love is this, O my soul
What wondrous love is this, met with a father’s kiss
while I was far from home, O my soul, O my soul
He met me far from home, O my soul