"The Lost Shepherd"

"The Lost Shepard" is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the fourteenth track on the Deluxe Version of their 2010 album Year of the Black Rainbow.

Lyrics
[Verse 1] Heaven, save me a place at the window I'm on my march to the ending of me I've buried a cold within this heart I lost the cure that plagued the start Oh, my lover, I ache (I can't stand myself)

[Pre-Chorus] I've done all of these things for you Stained my soul to bleed with you (Help us, help us survive) (Help us, help us)

[Chorus] Now, wallow in sick and disease To measure out a man I know I can't be Go learn your turn and swallow, a shepherd if they follow Please greet them as they graze goodbye

[Verse 2] Here's my blood, 'cause you will accept no other I've hollowed this heart to hide you within (I can't stand my...)

[Pre-Chorus] I'm so sick of these things I do Worse off, worse off, I blame you (Help us, help us survive) (Help us, help us)

[Chorus] Now, wallow in sick and disease To measure out a man I know I can't be Go learn your turn and swallow, a shepherd if they follow Please greet them as they graze goodbye

[Bridge] You did all you could But there's nothing left, no, no more after all Shame you, you know That the secrets kept would one day kill us all

[Chorus] I've wallowed through sick and disease To measure out a man I know I can't be Go learn your turn and swallow, a shepherd if they follow Please greet them as they graze goodbye (Help us, help us, help us...)

Now, wallow in sick and disease To measure out a man I know I can't be Go learn your turn and swallow, a shepherd if they follow Please greet them as they graze goodbye

Story Context
"" This song seems to be from Leonard's perspective. Taking the role of a shepherd upon himself, he puts aside his own doubt, grief, and needs to serve his flock. It seems obvious from lines like, "I've done all of these things for you / Stained my soul to bleed with you" and "Here's my blood, 'cause you will accept no other / I've hollowed this heart to hide you within" that his main concern is, as always, Pearl. As there doesn't seem to be a one-to-one with the novel, this may be more of an monologue or character song.

Trivia

 * The title of this song may be a role-reversal of The Parable of the Lost Sheep, in which a shepherd leaves his flock of 99 sheep to go find 1 of them that has been lost and trapped, carrying it back to the rest on his shoulders. The moral of the parable is that God will not abandon any of his people, no matter how far they may stray; he will always be willing to save them and bring them back in celebration.
 * If Leonard is "The Shepherd" who is lost, Pearl, who would be the Sheep, is the actual leader.