THE NINETY-AND-NINE

Words: Elizabeth C. Clephane
Music: Ira D. Sankey

[Dad's key: C#]
Capo: 2nd or 3rd fret

Verse 1
There were (D)ninety-and-nine who (A)safely (D)lay
In the shelter of the (A)fold,
But (D)one was out on the fields away,
Far (G)off from those (A)gates of (D)gold.
(Bm)A(F#)way on the (Bm)mountain (F#)wild and (Bm)bare,
(A)A(D)way from the Shepherd's (A)tender (D)care,
Away from the Shep(E7)herd's (A7)tender (D)care.

Verse 2
"Lord, (D)Thou hast here Thy (A)ninety-and-(D)nine,
Are they not enough for (A)Thee?"
But the (D)Shepherd made answer,
"This of Mine has (G)wandered a(A)way from (D)Me."
(Bm)And al(F#)though the (Bm)road was (F#)rough and (Bm)steep,
(A)He (D)went to the desert to (A)find His (D)sheep,
He went to the desert (E7)to (A7)find His (D)sheep.

Verse 3 [not sung on tape by Dad]
But (D)few of the ransomed (A)ever (D)knew
How deep were those waters (A)crossed,
Nor how (D)dark was the night that the Lord passed through,
Ere He (G)found His (A)sheep that was (D)lost.
(F#)Out in the (Bm)desert He (F#)heard its (Bm)cry,
(D)Sick and helpless and (A)ready to (D)die,
So sick and helpless (E7)and (A7)ready to (D)die.

Verse 3
"Lord, (D)whence are these blood-drops (A)o'er the (D)way
That sprinkle the mountain's (A)path?"
"They were (D)shed for one, you, who'd gone astray
Ere the (G)Shepherd could (A)bring you (D)back."
(Bm)"Lord, (F#)whence are Thy (Bm)hands so (F#)rent and (Bm)torn?"
(A)"They're (D)pierced tonight by (A)many a (D)thorn,
They're pierced tonight (E7)by (A7)many a (D)thorn.

Verse 4
But (D)all through the mountains, (A)thunder-(D)riven,
And up from that rocky (A)steep,
There a(D)rose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven,
"Re(G)joice! For I have (A)found My (D)sheep!"
(Bm)And the (F#)angels (Bm)echoed a(F#)round the (Bm)throne,
(A)"Re(D)joice, for the Lord brings (A)back His (D)Own!
Rejoice, for the Lord (E7)brings (A7)back His (D)Own!"

Listing of All Chords in This Song