Like a Shepherd (AOV 1/160)

Another Bob Dufford song from the seventies still in high rotation nearly forty years later. The original can be heard here. Obviously a candidate for any liturgy needing shepherd songs and an alternative to all the Ps 23 settings – this one draws on Isaiah, Ezekiel and Matthew.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

It is meant to be at a tempo of 100 for the refrain and 104 for the verses.  I can’t be that precise so I do it about 110 all the way through. I also only have ever done a four bar intro rather than the five (!) bar intro as written.

After all these years, I don’t think anyone notices how odd the verses are – the first two start on a “wrong” note and the third is completely different again and has a prolonged note on “shoul-DERS.”  This is a recipe for everyone to come back in whenever they want to and I simply ignore it.

This church gives you more of an idea what it sounds like with an assembly singing and the violin is kind of wild.

Refrain

Like a shepherd he feeds his flock,
And gathers the lambs in his arms.
Holding them carefully close to his heart,
Leading them home.

Verse 1

Say to the cities of Judah prepare the way of the Lord
Go to the mountain top lift your voice
Jerusalem here is your God.

Refrain

Verse 2

I myself will shepherd them
For others have led them astray.
The lost I will rescue and heal their wounds
And pasture them giving them rest.

Refrain

Verse 3

Come unto me if you are heavily burdened
And take my yoke upon your shoulders,
I will give you rest..

Refrain

…leading them home.

© Robert Dufford SJ and New Dawn Music 1976.