How have I stray'd, my God?

How have I strayed, my God, where have I been

Since first I wandered in the maze of sin?

Lord, I have been I know not where,

So intricate youth's follies are;

And age hath its lab'rinths too,

Yet neither hath a wise returning clue.

Thy look, thy call, to me

Shall my far better Ariadne be,

O most sweet dear Jesu.

Hark, I hear my shepherd call away

And in a doleful accent say:

Why does my Lamb thus stray?

O blessed voice,

That prompts me to new choice!

And fain, dear shepherd, fain would I come

But I can find no track

To lead me back,

And if I still go on I am undone.

Chorus

'Tis thou, O Lord, must bring me home,

Or show the way,

For poor souls have thousand ways to stray,

Yet to return but only one.