Brian Doerksen - Prodigal Son Lyrics

This piece is a short dramatic number written from the viewpoint of the elder son in the parable of the prodigal son. Rather than the usual celebration of the father's welcome, the lyrics give voice to the resentment of the household and the townsfolk, who answer the younger brother's return with accusations of shame, waste, and dishonor.

The repeated words "Disgraced you are" and "Despised you'll be" show a community demanding payment and punishment. Phrases such as "We demand recompense" and "Wrath and judgment have begun" set a harsh sense of justice against the mercy found in the parable itself.

The contrast is the point of the scene. In Luke 15, the elder son stays outside and refuses to join the feast, while the father goes out to plead with him. The song lets listeners hear how judgment sounds before grace speaks, which can prompt reflection on how the parable challenges self-righteousness. It reads best as part of a larger stage work and not as a standalone hymn.