Lead me back to my Father’s house

Love is calling. Mercy is waiting for me

Lead me back to my Father’s house

And lay me gently in his arms

Lead me back to my Father’s house

The race is over, my life on earth complete

And lay me gently in Mercy’s outstretched arms

May he be my final resting place

Lead me back ...

Lord, receive everything I am

Though I’m not worthy, I place my trust in you

I stand convicted for all I’ve said and done

By your love and mercy am I saved

Lead me back ...

Nothing can keep us from the love of God

His love’s a light that shines forever

By your grace, Lord, take me back again

Where I can rest in everlasting peace

Lead me back to my Father’s house

Love is calling. Mercy is waiting for me

Lead me back to my Father’s house

And lay me gently in his arms

And lay me gently  ... in his arms

Jim Troll was a key member of the Alleluia Band. He died in the Fall of 2007 after a long battle with cancer. Not too long after Jim had restarted his cancer treatment, he and I were sitting next to each other during a liturgy workshop. We were practicing sight reading. After singing a beautiful song, the instructor said, “That would be a great song for a funeral.” Jim leaned over to me and said “I need a funeral song.”

I was taken aback for a moment, then I began to pray for Jim. And I continued to pray for him for several months that this song would come to me - and it did.

This song has many influences: The book, “Final Gifts” talks about hospice care. That’s the basis for the first verse. You’ll also hear some Pauline phrasing here. The second verse is based on something my pastor quoted to me from Fr. Richard Rohr about how, on the day of judgment, all we will be able to say to God is “guilty as charged” and rely on his infinite mercy. The third verse is inspired by that beautiful reading used at funerals from Romans (Romans 8:35).

I finished the song and invited Jim to my house for a couple of cold Amberbocks and played it for him. He said he liked it but that he “wasn’t ready for it yet!”

As I wrote this song, I anticipated what Jim and his family would go through as he would eventually enter hospice care and prepare to die. I had the privilege of knowing Jim as a friend, a neighbor, a fellow band member, and a brother in Christ. At Jim’s request, Carrie Bajzath, Mike Bitter and I sang this at Jim’s funeral as a eulogy of sorts.

The recording on this page is a rough, unedited version. Life isn’t always smooth and sweet sounding, but the love a friend is.

Rest in peace, our gentle friend.

Lead Me Back

Words and Music by Dan Donnelly. Recording by Dan Donnelly, Carrie Bajzath and Mike Bitter.

Copyright © Daniel R Donnelly.

All Rights Reserved.