Good Shepherd

"Good Shepherd" is a traditional song, known by several names with varying words, melodies and purpose but common themes. The song's history reflects many of the evolutionary changes and cross-currents of American music. It begins early in the 19th century as a hymn penned by a backwoods preacher. It was first recorded in the 1930s as a gospel blues done in a prison by a blind inmate convicted of murder. In the 1950s and 60s, it evolved into a folk song, before being recorded by Jefferson Airplane in 1969. Several of these different versions of the song are still performed today.