On today's episode of Earworm Theater, we examine the symbolism of an old spiritual turned ballad [View all]

[EYESORE 9001]

I awoke this morning to this song playing in my head. Funny, since I haven’t heard it in at least 30 years. Earworms are a part of my life that I’ve accepted, as there’s always playing at my cranial juke joint. Oftentimes it’s something insipid, like a commercial jingle or catchy pop line, but sometimes these memories of songs from long ago make me wonder whether it’s a message from my subconscious. I have the key to exchanging earworms, but I think I’ll mull this one over awhile longer.

These are the lyrics:

If you want to get to heaven
Over on the other shore
Stay out of the way of the blood-stained bandit
Oh good shepherd
Feed my sheep
One for paul
One for silas
One for to make my heart rejoice
Can't you hear my lambs acallin
Oh good shepherd
Feed my sheep
If you want to get to heaven
Over on the other shore
Stay out of the way of the long-tongue liar
Oh good shepherd
Feed my sheep
If you want to get to heaven
Over on the other shore
Stay out of the way of the gun shot devil
Oh good shepherd
Feed my sheep

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/jefferson_airplane/good_shepherd

The entire Volunteers album was politically themed, with this exception, although I would argue that staying away from the long-tongue liar is still sound advice in the voting booth. I’m a fan of Jorma Kaukonen and his experimental approach to the electric guitar, and this is one of a scant handful of songs where he performs lead vocal. It’s also hard to pigeonhole this song - a psychedelic gospel blues folk rock composition.