Calling All The Children Home

Description

I began the lyrics for “Calling All the Children Home” the flight returning from my father’s memorial service. I was thinking about all of the ways that we are called home as children in the human realm, but ultimately in the Spiritual. Recently, the song has been used for many Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day ceremonies and services. It is always interesting to see what a song grows up to be.

CALLING ALL THE CHILDREN HOME
By Dan Johnson and Roger Tomhave ©2007

How many times had supper gotten cold
The dinner bell had long since rung.
But Father and children were nowhere to be found
The game was on and the night was young.

Calling all the children home,
From wherever they have scattered,
Like fallen leaves are gathered,
Before the winter snow.
Calling all the children home.
We pray for safe returning.
We’ll keep a fire burning,
And put the porch light on.
Calling all the children,
Calling all the children home.

She still rings the bell though no the children are at play,
Imagines toys strewn across the lawn.
“How have they wandered so many miles away?”
“I can’t believe they’re grown and gone.”

He says, “Why are messing with that old bell?”
“There’s no one out there gonna hear.”
“It’s a foolish thing, far as I can tell.”
“I love that sound,” she whispers in his ear.

Calling all the children home,
From wherever they have scattered,
Like fallen leaves are gathered,
Before the winter snow.
Calling all the children home.
We pray for safe returning.
We’ll keep a fire burning,
And put the porch light on.
Calling all the children,
Calling all the children home.

How many times must she relive this call?
Each telling harder than the last.
They hear her words but do not speak at all.
Their father and their innocence have passed.

Now the steeple tolls a brighter sound,
and it’s God who rings the bell.

Calling all the children home,
From wherever they have scattered,
Like fallen leaves are gathered,
Before the winter snow.
Calling all the children home.
We pray for safe returning.
We’ll keep a fire burning,
And put the porch light on.
Calling all the children,
Calling all the children home.