I        D                           Bm 
    When I was but a young man, I was wild and full of fire 
      D                                  Bm 
    A youth within my teens, but full of challenge and desire 
      D                              Bm 
    I ran away from home and left my mother and my dad 
      G                    A                 Bm 
    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      G                D         G                D 
    One night we rustled cattle, a thousand head or so 
        G                D                 Bm 
    And started then out on the trail that leads to Mexico 
           G               A           D                 G 
    When a norther started blowing and lightning flashed about 
      D                   G             A                 D 
    I thought someone was calling me, I thought I heard a shout 
     
III      D                                   F#m 
    Then at that moment lightning struck not twenty yards from me 
        G                                  D 
    And left there was a giant cross where once there was a tree 
         Bm                             Em 
    This time I knew I heard a voice, a voice so sweet and strange 
      F#m                                Bm 
    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