Melody in F (The Prodigal Son)
October 8, 2008
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Posted by Ray Fowler
I first heard this fun, frolicking, alliterative version of “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” back in the 1980’s when Jack Hayford read it out loud on his radio program. I was living in California at the time and really enjoyed Hayford’s preaching. I happened to tape the show and wrote the words down later. With Tim Keller’s new book about to be released (The Prodigal God), I thought it would be fun to unfurl it here. Be sure to read it out loud for maximum effect!
MELODY IN F – Author unknown (possibly Phil Kerr – see comments below)
Feeling footloose and frisky, a feather-brained fellow forced his fond father to fork over the farthings, and flew far to foreign fields and frittered his fortune feasting fabulously with faithless friends.
Fleeced by his fellows in folly, and facing famine, he found himself a feed flinger in a filthy farmyard. Fairly famishing, he fain would have filled his frame with foraged food from fodder fragments. “Fooey, my father’s flunkies fare far finer,” the frazzled fugitive forlornly fumbled, frankly facing facts.
Frustrated by failure, and filled with foreboding, he fled forthwith to his family. Falling at his father’s feet, he forlornly fumbled, “Father, I’ve flunked, and fruitlessly forfeited family favor.” The far-sighted father, forestalling further flinching, frantically flagged the flunkies to fetch a fatling from the flock and fix a feast.
The fugitive’s fault-finding brother frowned on fickle forgiveness of former folderol. But the faithful father figured, “Filial fidelity is fine, but the fugitive is found! What forbids fervent festivity? Let flags be un-furled! Let fanfares flare!” Father’s forgiveness formed the foundation for the former fugitive’s future fortitude.
Note: See Luke 15:11-32 for the original version.
Related post: Parable of the Prodigal Puppy
Categories: Bible, Fun
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Fascinating Faithbuilder for Forgiveness Facts
Fankyou very much!
Original version of “Melody in F” is by Phil Kerr who wrote more than 1500 choruses.
Thanks, Kim! – Ray Fowler
I concur with Kim, that the author is Phil Kerr. Decades ago I heard Jack Hayford read this at a church service where he pastored. I was so excited about it that I sought out a printed version of it, and underneath the title, “Melody in F”, it read, “by Phil Kerr”.
I think it would only be right to remove the words “author unknown”, and put Phil Kerr’s name up there, on your posting.
Edward – I just made a notation, thanks!
Is it helpful to know that this is more than 60 years old? I have a copy that I made when I was in seminary, and I graduated in 1957.
Don – Wow, I had no idea it went back that far. Thanks for sharing!
I have a newspaper clipping of this and it was published in a record album by Evangelist Tommy Stone in 1975. I think he is the original author of this .
I first heard this read by a pastor at a bible camp I was attending in around 1964. Thanks for writing the words down.
Great resources
Thank you so so much
JESUS LOVES ALL
Well this takes me back. I believe it was January 1, 1973, and I was at Church of the Way in Van Nuys. We were there for evangelism. About 1974 Dick Joyce was teaching on a Sunday night service at a place called Bethesda Christian Center. The sermon was about being reconciled to God, and Dick read Melody in “F”.
An interesting side note is, “The History of Kenosha County”. In there several pages were dedicated to “Knowles Shaw”, a lively person who would strike-up the band at dances, and had a red beard that was “most luxuriant”. During one of the dance nights Knowles failed the call to strike up the band. He slowly, and solemnly walked to the middle of the dance floor and stated, “I have purposed in my heart to live my life for Christ, and would appreciate none of my friends hindering me on this endeavor.” He led many of his friends to Christ along with about 12,000 other converts. He also wrote about 112 songs, and hymns, the most famous being, “The Bright and Shining Ones” (never heard of it), and one song that was less known called, “Bringing in the Sheaves”.
Ambrose Myers had lost his wife to cancer, and remarried to Knowles’ daughter Nellie(?) Shaw whom he also lost to cancer. My lineage is from Ambrose and his third wife.
A quick addendum… I have a mantle clock that was a wedding gift from Knowles to Ambrose and Nellie.
Max – Fun memories, thanks for sharing!
Well, Sharon, plagiarism is a sin and crime.
Your strange snd unchristian church has stolen my Copyrighted work without my permission. Had thry observed yhe mitzvoth, Thou shalt not steal, they would not have done so, but they did not ask me. Instead of honouring God and his Christ they stole my work and used it without seeking my permission and without the International COPYRIGHT NOTICE that is attached to all my writings.
I am a Christian who observes the Word of God and honours his divine commandments and I take it amiss when anyone, not merely false Christians, steal my work and fail to acknowledge my authorship that I exercise in praise of my Hesvenly Fsther and ha maschiach, Jesus Christ.
What is called The Prodigal Son is really the parable of The Forhibing Father the major lesson that my Saviour was teaching his disciples.
I learn from God and Jesus not only mot to steal but also to forgive repentant sinners, so i am reafy to forgive those who stral from me on condition of their repentance and when they have righted their wrongdoings. This is what el shaddai anf his only begotten Son have taught me.
I became a Christian just over 76 years ago when the Holy Ghost miraculously converted me into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a wonderful event that was, praise God. I have never looked back.
I am an Honours graduate of Leeds University’ Department of Theology and Religious Studies a former member of Kitklees Metropolitan Council’s Working Party and Plenary Committee that formulated the New Religious Studies Curriculum, a former delegate to the UK Inter Faith Council and one-time Hon Sec of the Kirklees Inter Faith Fellowship. I am an High Priest and have served three full time missions as a ptoselyting tescher, a Church Buildinh missionary, and a Missionary Co-ordinater in the Church Educational System (CES), and have taught in every teaching position in the Church, including the organisation for sisters and children.
I retired from my employment in January of 2000 and began pursuing my authorship career on thst same date. I am a prolific author of spiritual and secular works and I guard my output securely by attaching my International Copyright Notice to everything that leaves my pen. This is why I am cross to discover my works plagiarised, especially when the thieves turn out to be putatively religious.
I am generous with my work and have never refused to grant permission to those that follow the rules and request permission. I insist thst thry post my work accuratrely and include my Copyright Notive thst I assidously sttsch at the ends of each piece of my written work.
My works are made in honour of the God who is the Father of us all and I write to praise and honour him. It is my sincere hope and prayer that those who read my writings will also honour our Father in heaven and will keel his commandments that he has given to us to keep our feet on his straight and narrow path that leads us to Salvation in his eternal kingdom…May we ever be true to him as he is to us, his children.
Please eccuse my unintentional typographical errors.
I suffer from tremors
Phil Kerr DID NOT WRITE Patsble in F.
I did! My name when i wrote it was Ronnie Bray but I changed it to Ronnie Bennett Aubrey-Bray in 2014 when I married Esme Valentine Aubrey and we amalgamated our surnames to Aubrey-Bray.
Please set the record straight.
Ask P. KERR HOW HE WOULD LIKE IT IF I EERE TO CLAIM THE COPRIGHT FOT HIS SONGS AND THEN PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THAT.
CHRISTIANS DO NOT STEAL BECSUUSE STEALING, AS IN PLAGIARISM, IS THEFT, A CRIMINAL OFFENCE AND A SIN.
Thank you.
Lord Ronnie Bennett Aubrey-Bray. Formerly Ronnie Bray, author of Parable in F.
Ray Fowler, you acknowledge that Kerr stole my work Parable in F, and you ascribe authorship to Fil the Feif.
You have a strange form of religion that rewards feifery. I lnow the Bible and it does not recognise theft as religious observance.
Why do you?
Lord Ronnie Bennett Aubrey-Bray. Formetly Ronnie Bray author of Parable in F.
Phil Kerr did not write PARABLE IN F!
I wrote it and it is my Internationally Copyrighted Work. I fo not know Phil the Plagiarist Kerr and not only does he not know me but we have NEVER MET OR COMMUNICATED.
Please withdraw your lie about the authorship of my work.
Lord Ronnie Bennett Aubrey-Bray
Parable in F is my own COPYRIGHTED work. I do not know Phil Kerr and he has never sought my permission to use.my work in any of his productions. Had he asked me I would have given my permission on condition that he posted Parable in F exactly as i had written it and included my International Copyright Notice.
I am a Christian Minister, Preacher, Teacher, Missionary and Wordsmith. I am generous with my work and readily gtant permission to those see king to spread the Word of God to others.
Please make correction to my work so that readers and hearers know who wrote it and give thanks and glory to God. It is little to ask that Christian sites and performers behave honestly.
God bless you, Kim. ❤️🙏
Lord Ronnie Bennett Aubrey-Bray.
Copyright (C) 2026 Holder of “Parable in F” – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
Fank you my friend.
Father feels for you and forgives i88you, and so do I.