Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Lyrics Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836
4 verses, meter 8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Verse 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:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Hear the children when they pray;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Hear the children when they pray.
Verse 3. Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful tho’ we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Early let us turn to thee;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Early let us turn to thee.
Verse 4. Early let us seek thy favor;
Early let us do thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Saviour,
With thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast lov’d us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus,
Thou hast lov’d us, love us still.
Words copied from New Baptist Hymnal (1926). They were published in 1836, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
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The story behind Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
The hymn first appeared in 1832 in Hymns for the Young, Selected for the Purpose of Being Committed to Memory, published by the Religious Tract Society in London. It had four six-line stanzas and no author's name. Most hymnals credit Dorothy A. Thrupp, who wrote hymns for children and signed them Iota or D. A. T. The Hymnology Archive disputes that. It names Henry Francis Lyte as the likely author. A June 1838 issue of The Children's Friend credited the hymn to Lyte. A book from 1833 by Julia Puddicombe printed it, and she lived in Brixham, where Lyte was curate. The archive also notes that the hymn is missing from the hymns Thrupp signed in Elizabeth Mayo's 1838 collection. J. R. Watson doubts Lyte because the tone is more evangelical than his usual writing. Authorship stays open. The words follow Psalm 23 and echo Isaiah 40:11, where the Lord gathers the lambs in his arms. William B. Bradbury wrote the tune BRADBURY for it. It first appeared in his book Oriola (Cincinnati, 1859). A four-part setting ran in the Devotional Hymn and Tune Book of the American Baptist Publication Society in 1864. Bradbury had led music at the First Baptist Church of Brooklyn and at the Baptist Tabernacle in New York.
William B. Bradbury
1816 to 1868
William Batchelder Bradbury was born at York, Maine, in 1816 and moved with his family to Boston in 1830. He studied in Lowell Mason's singing classes and later led music at the First Baptist Church of Brooklyn and the Baptist Tabernacle in New York. His singing schools helped bring music into New York's public schools. He studied in London and Germany in 1847 and began making Bradbury pianos with his brother Edward in 1851. He edited 59 books of sacred and secular music. His tune BRADBURY, from Oriola (1859), is the one most often sung with "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." He died of tuberculosis in 1868.
- Hymnology Archive, Saviour, like a shepherd, lead us , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, Baptist Hymnal 1991, Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, William Batchelder Bradbury , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
The Bible passages behind the words, with the verse of the hymn that draws on each.
- Psalm 23:1 In verse 1 of the hymn
- Isaiah 40:11 In verse 11 of the hymn
- Matthew 18:12-14
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us videos
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Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (Hymn 170) | Grace Community Church Congregation & Orchestra Hymns of Grace, Congregation
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Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us - HBBC Chancel Choir and Orchestra Hayes Barton Baptist Church Music Ministry, Choir
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Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - A Cappella Hymn A Cappella Hymns, A cappella
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Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us - piano instrumental hymn Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us (Blessed Savior) | Simple Hymns | Official Music Video Simple Hymns, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Downloads, printing and slides
Sheet music files
- Sheet music PDF 103 KB. Words and all four parts, ready to print.
- Lead sheet PDF 89 KB. Melody, words and chord symbols for piano or guitar.
- MusicXML score XML 86 KB. Opens in MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius and Dorico to change the key or print parts.
- MIDI, all parts MIDI 3 KB. Plays the four-part harmony in any MIDI player or notation app.
- MIDI, melody only MIDI 1 KB. The tune alone, for learning it.
Practice tracks for each voice part, as MIDI: Alto , Tenor , Bass .
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in D.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us?
Nobody knows for certain. Most hymnals name Dorothy Thrupp, but the Hymnology Archive says Henry Francis Lyte is the more likely author.
Who wrote the tune BRADBURY?
William B. Bradbury wrote it, and it first appeared in his book Oriola in 1859. It is the most popular tune for this text.
What Bible passage is Savior, Like a Shepherd based on?
The words follow Psalm 23. Hymnary also lists Isaiah 40:11, where the Lord carries the lambs in his arms.
Is Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us in the public domain?
The words are public domain in the United States. The Hymnology Archive dates the first printing to 1832, and the library's core text lists 1836. Bradbury's tune dates from 1859.
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