Yes, I Shall Arise

"Yes, I Shall Arise" is one of those deeply grounding pieces that immediately sets a tone of repentance and quiet hope in the church. Drawing its famous antiphon straight from the lips of the Prodigal Son in Luke's Gospel, the song gives the congregation a simple, resolute declaration to sing together: a decision to turn back to the Father.

The structure of this arrangement relies heavily on a cantor or solo voice to carry the verses, while the rest of the choir provides a soft, humming foundation underneath. The verses themselves read like a heartfelt psalm of lament and trust, moving from "Mercy I cry, O Lord, wash me clean" to the quiet assurance that "The blessings of God will fill all my days."

We often pull this piece out during Lent, particularly for Ash Wednesday or as a reflective Communion hymn when the readings call us to conversion. Because the antiphon is so brief and memorable, the congregation can easily join in without needing to bury their faces in a hymnbook, allowing the whole parish to truly pray the words.