Looking for the lyrics and tune - remember the first couple of lines.. there were ninety and nine

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:54 am

The first 2 lines are:
"there were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold, while one was off on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold"

I remember it as an old hymn, possibly dating to sometime in the 19th or early 20th century. I encountered it in Delaware, possibly in a Methodist church, possibly in Youth for Christ.

many thanks for your website -
June Taylor

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 5:17 am

I've found the lyrics & the author - Elizabeth C. Clephane, a Scotswoman who wrote it in 1868. So I'm sure I heard it from my Granny. The tune was written by Ira Sankey, & I'm still looking for sheet music or the notation of the tune.
June

homcna25 · Post by **homcna25** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:13 am

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep."

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry,
Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.

"Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain's track?"
"They were shed for one who had gone astray
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn."

And all through the mountains, thunder riven
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
"Rejoice! I have found My sheep!"
And the angels echoed around the throne,
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"