Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

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Savior, like a shepherd lead us

Author (attributed to): Dorothy A. Thrupp (1836); Author (attributed to): Henry F. Lyte (1836)
Tune: BRADBURY (Bradbury)
Published in 1135 hymnals

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	Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Piano/Organ
	I Stand Amazed in the Presence

Choral
	Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Representative Text

1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

2 We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3 Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee.

4 Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Hymns for the Living Church

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Author (attributed to): Dorothy A. Thrupp

Dorothy Ann Thrupp was born in London, June 10, 1779. She contributed some hymns, under the pseudonym of "Iota," to W. Carus Wilson's Friendly Visitor and his Children's Friend. Other hymns by her, signed "D.A.T.," appeared in Mrs. Herbert Mayo's Selection of Hymns and Poetry for the Use of Infant Schools and Nurseries, 1838. She was also the editor of Hymns for the Young, c. 1830, in which all the hymns were given anonymously. She died in London on December 15, 1847. --The Hymnal 1940 Companion… Go to person page >

Author (attributed to): Henry F. Lyte

Lyte, Henry Francis, M.A., son of Captain Thomas Lyte, was born at Ednam, near Kelso, June 1, 1793, and educated at Portora (the Royal School of Enniskillen), and at Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was a Scholar, and where he graduated in 1814. During his University course he distinguished himself by gaining the English prize poem on three occasions. At one time he had intended studying Medicine; but this he abandoned for Theology, and took Holy Orders in 1815, his first curacy being in the neighbourhood of Wexford. In 1817, he removed to Marazion, in Cornwall. There, in 1818, he underwent a great spiritual change, which shaped and influenced the whole of his after life, the immediate cause being the illness and death of a brother cler… Go to person page >

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Related Texts

First Line:	Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Title:	Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Author (attributed to):	Dorothy A. Thrupp (1836)
Author (attributed to):	Henry F. Lyte (1836)
Meter:	8.7.8.7.4.7
Source:	Hymns for the Young, 4th ed., London, 1836.
Language:	English
Notes:	Spanish translation: See "Cristo, buen pastor, orienta" by George Paul Simmonds; Swahili translation: See "Yesu Mchungaji tuongoze"
Copyright:	Public Domain

Year A, Advent, Fourth Sunday
Year A, Easter season, Fourth Sunday
This is recommended for Year A, Easter season, Fourth Sunday by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #187 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #330.
Year A, Easter season, Fourth Sunday
Related to John 10 (NPM)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 13 (18)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 21 (26)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 23 (28)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 28 (33)
Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34)
This is recommended for Year A, Ordinary Time, Proper 29 (34) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #187 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #330.
Year B, Lent, Fourth Sunday
Year B, Easter season, Fourth Sunday
This is recommended for Year B, Easter season, Fourth Sunday by 3 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #187 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #330.
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 11 (16)
This is recommended for Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 11 (16) by 2 hymnal lectionary indexes including Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #330.
Year B, Ordinary Time, Proper 11 (16)
Year C, Easter season, Fourth Sunday
This is recommended for Year C, Easter season, Fourth Sunday by 4 hymnal lectionary indexes including Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal #187 and Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #330.
Year C, Ordinary Time, Proper 19 (24)

English

10 shown out of 792

English, Hawaiian

The New Century Hymnal #252

Spanish

Santo, Santo, Santo: cantos para el pueblo de Dios = Holy, Holy, Holy: songs for the people of God #538

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Notes

The text of "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" first appeared in Hymns for the Young, 1840, which was edited by Dorothy Ann Thrupp (1779-1847). Although no author's name appears with the text, it is thought that Thrupp wrote it, since she often published hymns anonymously, under the pseudonym "Iota," or simply using her initials.

The tune we sing today was written by William Bradbury expressly for this text and appeared in his Sunday School collection, Oriola, 1859. Bradbury was a protege of the great music educator, Lowell Mason. Bradbury sang in Mason's Bowdoin Street Church choir and Boston Academy of Music as a youth, and later started similar church and school music programs in New York where he served as organist at First Baptist Church. Beyond his work as an educator and church musician, Bradbury studied composition in Europe, founded the Bradbury Piano Company with his brother, and edited a number of music books. Bradbury is probably most famous for writing the music to "Jesus Loves Me."

It's interesting that "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" was originally intended for children. In fact, many classic hymns like "Morning Has Broken" and "All Things Bright and Beautiful" were originally written for youth. Certainly this proves that educating our children and creating lasting music need not be mutually exclusive goals! --Greg Scheer, 1997

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Saviour, like a Shepherd, lead us. [The Good Shepherd.] The authorship of this hymn is a matter of some doubt. The earliest source to which we have traced it is Miss D. A. Thrupp's Hymns for the Young, 4th edition 1836, in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, where it is unsigned. We next find it in the Rev. W. Carus Wilson's Children's Friend for June, 1838, again in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, and signed “Lyte." In the January number of the same magazine there is a National Hymn in the metre of "God save the Queen" ("Lord, Thy best blessing shed"), which is signed "H. Lyte," and dated from "Brixham".

"Saviour, like a Shepherd, lead us" appears again in 1838, in Mrs. Herbert Mayo's Selections of Hymns and Poetry for the use of Infant and Juvenile School, No. 171; and again in the edition of 1846, but without signature. As in that collection several hymns and poems are signed "D. A. T.," it is clear that Mrs. Mayo did not regard the hymn as Miss Thrupp's production. The most that we can say is that the evidence is decidedly against Miss Thrupp, and somewhat uncertain with regard to Lyte as the writer of the hymn. Its use is extensive both in G. Britain and America. [William T. Brooke]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

BRADBURY (Bradbury)

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For Leaders

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Many versifications of Psalm 23 act as hymns of assurance and confessions of trust. We know the text well – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” This text, attributed to Dorothy Thrupp, differs from those texts. Rather than an assertion of our faith, it is a prayer that stems from our faith. It goes, if you will, a step further than the psalm’s declaration. We know that God is our Shepherd. We know why we trust. And because we have that trust, we ask that God be faithful. We acknowledge our dependency and our emptiness, and ask that God would provide. We ask not in doubt, but in faith. Every verse of this hymn contains a promise we have from God, and a prayer we make because of that promise. This is how we are called to live our lives as followers of Christ – in prayer, because of faith. Thrupp’s text is a beautiful example of how we might live out that calling.

Text:

There is some contention as to who wrote this hymn text. Some attribute it to Henry F. Lyte, and others to Dorothy A. Thrupp. Most people lean towards Thrupp, since it appeared in a hymnal she edited, and since she often published hymns anonymously. According to hymnologist Albert Bailey, the text is “largely on the child’s level,” the only theological suggestion found in this hymn being, “Thou has bought us.” The rest, he argues, is a poetic rendering of ideas found in Ps. 23 (The Gospel in Hymns, 184). And he is entirely correct. This hymn was originally written for children, so it makes sense that it’s on a “child’s level.” While he might criticize the lack of theological insight, the way Thrupp took a familiar image like the Shepherd in Psalm 23 and spun it to provide us with words of prayer is brilliant.

Tune:

William Bradbury wrote his self-named tune, BRADBURY, expressly for this text, and it is still the most common tune we sing with Thrupp’s text today. It might not be one of the most inspiring tunes ever written, but it is sung with much gusto and love by congregations. Other tune options include RHUDDLAN or PICARDY. Leigh Nash, best known as the lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer, has a recording of the hymn on her album Hymns & Sacred Songs with a fabulous modern folk tune that would be very easily adaptable for congregational singing.

When/Why/How:

This hymn could be sung during any point in the liturgical year, but would be especially fitting in a service themed on trust in God. Examples could be a New Year’s Day service or a baptism service. It would be powerful after the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon, after a reading of Psalm 23, or as a hymn of response after a sermon about trust or Psalm 23.

Suggested Music:

Hopson, Hal H. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - Unison Voices, Piano, Flute or C Instrument
Anderson, Christine, and Anna Page. Like A Shepherd - Handbells and Piano
Hascall, Nancy. Savior, Shepherd, Jesus - Handbell medley of "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, and "My Jesus, I Love Thee"
Hallelujah, What a Savior!, Vol. 2 (Extraordinary Settings of Hymns, Spirituals, and Chants Jazz arrangements for Piano

Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God (2023), p.431

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Instances

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Piano/Organ I Stand Amazed in the Presence Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Three Hymn Settings for Trumpet and Organ Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us: (The Kilgore Suite) Four Pieces on American Hymn Tunes for Organ More Piano/Organ...
Choral Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US More Choral...
Instrumental Table of the World O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go: Two Hymns for Oboe or C Instrument and Piano STRING STYLINGS More Instrumental...
Handbells Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us LIKE A SHEPHERD More Handbells...
PowerPoint SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US (Gray Psalter 591) SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006 - 789) SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US (Sing Joyfully 1989 - 449) More PowerPoint...

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