I        D5                           B5 
    When I was but a young man, I was wild and full of fire 
      D5                                  B5 
    A youth within my teens, but full of challenge and desire 
      D5                              B5 
    I ran away from home and left my mother and my dad 
      G5                    A5                 B5 
    I know it grieved them so to think their only boy went bad 

I    

    I fell in with an outlaw band, their names were known quite well 

    How many times we robbed and plundered, I could never tell 

    This kind of sinful living, leads only to a fall 

    I learned that much and more the night I heard my Master's call 
     

II      G5                D5         G5                D5 
    One night we rustled cattle, a thousand head or so 
        G5                D5                 B5 
    And started then out on the trail that leads to Mexico 
           G5               A5           D5                 G5 
    When a norther started blowing and lightning flashed about 
      D5                   G5             A5                 D5 
    I thought someone was calling me, I thought I heard a shout 
     

III      D5                                   F#5 
    Then at that moment lightning struck not twenty yards from me 
        G5                                  D5 
    And left there was a giant cross where once there was a tree 
         B5                             E5 
    This time I knew I heard a voice, a voice so sweet and strange 
      F#5                                B5 
    A voice that came from everywhere, a voice that called my name 
     
     
I   So frightened I was thinking of sinful deeds I'd done 
    I failed to see the thousand head of cattle start to run 
    The cattle they stampeded, were running all around 
    My pony ran but stumbled and it threw me to the ground 
     
II  I felt the end was near, that death would be the price 
    When another bolt of lightning showed the face of Jesus Christ 
    And I cried oh Lord forgive me, don't let it happen now 
    I want to live for you alone, Oh God these words I vow 
     
III My wicked past unfolded and I thought of wasted years 
    When another bolt of lightning killed a hundred head of steers 
    And the others rushed on by me and I was left to live 
    The Master had a reason, life is his to take or give   
     
I   A miracle performed that night, I wasn't meant to die 
    The dead ones formed a barricade nearly six or seven high 
    And right behind it there was I, afraid but safe and sound 
    I cried in vain for mercy kneeling there upon the ground 
     
I   A pardon I was granted, my sinful soul set free 
    No more to fear the angry waves upon life's stormy seas 
    Forgiven by the love of God, a love that will remain 
    I learned that much and more the night the Savior called my name