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.