HAYLEY WESTENRA LYRICS

"Shenandoah"

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you

Away, you rollin' river

O Shenandoah, I long to hear you.

Away I'm bound to go

'Cross the wide Missouri.

'Tis seven long years since I last saw you

Away, you rollin' river

'Tis seven long years since I last saw you

Away I'm bound to go

'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you

Away, you rollin' river.

O Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,

Away I'm bound to go

'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the American folk song. For other uses, see Shenandoah (disambiguation).

"Oh Shenandoah" (also called simply "Shenandoah", or "Across the Wide Missouri") is a traditional
American folk song of uncertain origin, dating at least to the early 19th century. The song is number 324 in
the Roud Folk Song Index, but is not listed amongst the Child Ballads.

Contents    [hide]

1 History

2 Usage

3 Lyrics

4 Interim state song of Virginia

5 Recordings

6 References

7 External links

History[edit]

Shenandoah was first printed[1] as part of William L. Alden's article "Sailor Songs", in the July 1882 issue of
Harper's New Monthly Magazine.[2][3]

The song had become popular as a sea chanty with sailors by the 1880s.[4]

Ike Skelton, the U.S. congressman for Missouri, noted in 2005 that local artist George Caleb Bingham
immortalized the jolly flatboatmen who plied the Missouri River in the early 19th century; these same
flatboatmen were known for their chanties, including the lovely "Oh Shenandoah". This boatmen's song
found its way down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the American clipper ships, and thus around the
world.[citation needed]

Sea Songs and Shanties, Collected by W.B. Whall, Master Mariner (First edition in Nov 1910), states that the
song probably originated from American or Canadian "voyageurs", who were great singers. Thomas Moore
drew inspiration from them in his Canadian Boat Song. The author further goes on and states that he heard
it sung over fifty years prior to publishing the book, which place its origin at least a fair bit earlier than 1860.
Besides sung at sea, this song figured in old public school collections. (info taken from page one in the sixth
edition of the book)

Usage[edit]

Set in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Washington & Lee University chorus singers and bands play this
song in homage to their alma mater. The University names the "Washington and Lee Swing" as their fight
song, but the student body, who lived in the Blue Ridge for at least four years, considers this one of their
most nostalgic songs.

The Virginia Military Institute Regimental Band and Glee Club frequently perform this song, as it is widely
considered that school's theme song. In this interpretation, Shenandoah refers to the home of the Virginia
Military Institute and expresses the longing that a cadet experiences once he is reminded of the valley's
beauty by his travels across the 'wide Missouri'.

Shenandoah is the official school song of Shenandoah University in Winchester VA, located at the north end
of the valley.

The song features prominently in the soundtrack of the 1965 movie, Shenandoah, starring Jimmy Stewart,
and is also heard as a part of a medley in the 1962 Cinerama film, How the West Was Won. It also appeared
on the American version of House of Cards in Season 1, Episode 8, where the protagonist returns to his
military alma mater in South Carolina.

Lyrics[edit]

The origin of the song is unclear, and there are many sets of lyrics.

Some lyrics may tell the story of a roving trader in love with the daughter of an Indian chief; in this
interpretation, the rover tells the chief of his intent to take the girl with him far to the west, across the
Missouri River. Other interpretations tell of a pioneer's nostalgia for the Shenandoah River Valley in Virginia,
or of a Confederate soldier in the American Civil War, dreaming of his country home in Virginia.

The song is also associated with escaped slaves. They were said to sing the song in gratitude because the
river allowed their scent to be lost.[citation needed]

The Shenandoah area made many parts like wheels and seats for wagons going west. These parts were
assembled in Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and settlers set out in Conestoga wagons
down the Ohio River, on the Mississippi and west up the Missouri River. Lyrics were undoubtedly added by
rivermen, settlers, and the millions who went west.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away, I'm bound away,

'cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah,

I love your daughter,

Away, you rolling river.

Your roaming waters,

Away, I'm bound away,

'Cross the wide Missouri.

'Tis seven years,

since last I've seen you,

And hear your rolling river.

'Tis seven years,

since last I've seen you,

Away, we're bound away,

Across the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

And hear your rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away, we're bound away,

Across the wide Missouri.

The lyrics as given in Sea Songs and Shanties, collected by W.B. Whall, Master Mariner (1910) is as follows:

Miss-ou-ri, she's a mighty riv-er.

A - way you rolling riv-er.

The red-skins' camp, lies on its bor-ders.

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

The white man loved the Indian maiden,

A - way you rolling riv-er.

With notions his canoe was laden. (note: Notions = knick-knacks)

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

A - way you rolling riv-er.

I'll take her 'cross yon rolling water."

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

The chief disdained the trader's dollars:

A - way you rolling riv-er.

"My daughter never you shall follow."

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

At last there came a Yankee skipper.

A - way you rolling riv-er.

He winked his eye, and he tipped his flipper.

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

He sold the chief that fire-water,

A - way you rolling riv-er.

And 'cross the river he stole his daughter.

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

"O, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,

A - way you rolling riv-er.

Across that wide and rolling river."

Ah-ha, I'm bound a-way, 'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

A Mr. J.E. Laidlaw of San Francisco reported hearing a version sung by a black Barbadian sailor aboard the
Glasgow ship Harland in 1894, which went:

Oh, Shenandoah! I hear you calling!

Away, you rolling river!

Yes, far away I hear you calling,

Ha, Ha! I'm bound away across the wide Missouri.

My girl, she's gone far from the river,

An' I ain't goin' to see her never.

Ha, Ha! I'm bound away, " &c.[5][6]

Alfred Mason Williams' 1895 Studies in Folk-song and Popular Poetry called it a "good specimen of a bowline
chant".[7] In his 1931 book on sea and river chanteys entitled Capstan Bars, David Bone wrote that "Oh
Shenandoah" originated as a river chanty or shanty and then became popular with seagoing crews in the
early 19th century.[8]

Lyrics to Oh Shenandoah by Tennessee Ernie Ford

Oh Shenandoah, I hear you calling,

Hi-Ho, You rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you,

Hi-Ho, I'm bound Away.

'Cross the wide, Missouri.

Miss-ou-ri, She's a mighty river,

Hi-Ho, You rolling River.

When she rolls down, Her topsoils shiver,

Hi-Ho, I'm bound Away,

'Cross the wide, Miss-ou-ri.

Farwell my Dearest, I'm bound to leave you,

Hi-Ho, You rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah, I'll not Deceive you,

Hi-Ho, I'm bound Away.

'Cross the wide Miss-ou-ri.

Interim state song of Virginia[edit]

For a time in early 2006, it appeared that "Shenandoah" would become the "interim state song" for Virginia.
While the authorizing legislation passed the Senate of Virginia, the measure died in committee on the
Virginia House of Delegates side.[9] It was a problematic choice because the song never specifically
mentions Virginia and, in many versions of the song, the name "Shenandoah" refers to an Indian chief, not
the Shenandoah Valley or Shenandoah River. However, an early rendition of the song, as related in 1931 by
David Bone in Capstan Bars, includes verses that appear to allude to the Shenandoah River, which is partly in
Virginia:

Oh, Shenandoah's my native valley.

Aa-way, you rolling river!

Shenandoah is my native valley.

Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah, it's far I wander.

Aa-way, you rolling river!

Shenandoah, it's far I wander.

Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

Oh, Shenandoah has rushing waters.

Aa-way, you rolling river!

Shenandoah has rushing waters.

Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross th' wide Missouri!

It is possible that, as the song's popularity spread, flatboatmen of the Missouri might have evolved different
lyrics than the bargemen of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal along the Potomac or sailors of the American
clipper fleet out of New Orleans.

Recordings[edit]

Chanticleer on "Chanticleer: A Portrait" (Taldec, 2003)

Dave Crossland on "Here's To The Ride" (1992)

Civil War Memories: Bill Darrow, Hertford, NC 27944

House of Cards (U.S. TV series): Francis Underwood (played by Kevin Spacey) and three of his old college
friends sing a part of this song a cappella after breaking into the old library (Season 1, Episode 8 "Chapter 8",
first aired February 1, 2013 on Netflix).

Tom Waits & Keith Richards on Son of Rogues Gallery (ANTI-, 2013)

Rene Marie on "Voice of My Beautiful Country" (Motema Music, 2011)

Peter Hollens on Sing me a Song! A Cappella from Around the World for Kids (A Cappella Records, 2012)
Heather Alexander on Arms of the Sea (Sea Fire Productions, 2006)

Dave Alvin on Public Domain: Songs From the Wild Land (Hightone Records, 2000)

Archibald Asparagus on VeggieTales: Bob and Larry's Campfire Songs (Big Idea, 2004)

Harry Belafonte on a 1952 single and on Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (RCA Records, 1959)

David Berkeley on "Some Kind of Cure" (2011)

Bread and Roses, an American Folk Punk band, on Deep River Day (Fistolo, 2007)

Glen Campbell on The Artistry of Glen Campbell (Capitol, 1972) or The Essential Glen Campbell Volume One
(Capitol CDP-33288, 1994)

Celtic Woman on Celtic Woman: A New Journey (Manhattan, 2007)

Chanticleer on Out of This World

Liam Clancy from the album The Wheels of Life (2008)

The Corries on Flower of Scotland (Moidart, 2006)

Celtas Cortos on Introversiones (2010)

Bing Crosby on How the West Was Won (RCA Records, 1959)

David Daniels[disambiguation needed] on A quiet thing (Virgin Classics 724354560025, 2003)

Dauphine Street Six, produced by Joe Meek

Connie Dover on "Somebody" (Taylor Park Music, 1991)

Bob Dylan on Down in the Groove (1988)

Tennessee Ernie Ford on The Folk Album (Capitol, 1971)

Sergio Franchi on Live at The Coconut Grove (RCA, 1965)[10]

Bill Frisell on Good Dog, Happy Man (Nonesuch, 1999)

Michael Holliday on "Hi!" (EMI Columbia, 1957)

The Kelly Family on Honest Workers (1991)

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman on Not For Kids Only - combined with Brahms's Lullaby (1993)

Judy Garland on That Old Feeling - Classic Ballads from the Judy Garland Show (Savoy Jazz label, 2005)

Nathan Gunn on American Anthem (EMI, 1999)

Arlo Guthrie on Son of the Wind (Rising Son, 1994)

Thomas Hampson on Song of America (Angel Records, 2005)

The Harvard Glee Club on multiple recordings; arrangements by Archibald T. Davison and Jameson Marvin

Allan Holdsworth on Against The Clock - The Essential (2005)

Tyler James on Sweet Relief (Son of Geert Music, 2007)

Keith Jarrett on The Melody At Night, With You (ECM, 1999)

Jimmy Kelly of The Kelly Family on his solo album Roots - Diggin' Deeper (2009)

The King's Singers on The King's Singers: Original Debut Recording (1971)

The Kingston Trio as "Across the Wide Missouri" on Here We Go Again! (Capitol, 1959)

Darlene Koldenhoven, Grammy Award Winner, included it in her arrangement "A Celtic American Treasury"
on her Solitary Treasures CD (10/10/11)

Land of Lakes Choirboys on The Voice of the Children (2007)

Michael Landon on Bonanza: Ponderosa Party Time (RCA, 1962)

Jim McGrath (musician) on Red Right Returning (Wepecket Island Records, 2007)

Roger McGuinn on Limited Edition (April First Productions, 2004)

Michigan State University Children's Choir, the Grammy Award-winning youth choir associated with
Michigan State University, on "America the Beautiful: Songs of Our Heritage"

Nanami Morikawa on A Sea of Voices (T.I.E. Records, 2012)

Mormon Tabernacle Choir on multiple recordings including America's Choir, Choral Adagios, Essential Choral
Classics.

Van Morrison with The Chieftains on The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3 (Manhattan/EMI, 2007)

Mickey Newbury on multiple recordings including Live in England

The Choir of New College, Oxford on Early One Morning: An anthology of folksong

Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends on their eponymous début album (2010)

Leontyne Price on God Bless America (RCA, 1982)

Achim Reichel on Dat Shanty Alb'm (1976)

Riot on The Brethren of the Long House (Rising Sun Productions, 1996)

Paul Robeson on multiple recordings including Ballads for Americans, The Essential Paul Robeson, Spirituals,
Folksongs & Hymns

Roanoke College Looking for an Echo

Small Potatoes on RAW (1993)

Pete Seeger on American Favorite Ballads, Volume 1 (Smithsonian Folkways, 2002)

Shusha on Shusha / This is the day (Bgocd531, 2001)

Sissel with The Chieftains on Sissel (Decca, 2002)

Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band on We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Columbia,
2006)

Frederick Squire on Frederick Squire Sings Shenandoah and Other Popular Hits (2011)

Jo Stafford on American Folk Songs (Corinthian, 1950)

The Statler Brothers on Big Country Hits (Columbia, 1967)

Bryn Terfel on A Song in my Heart (UCJ, 2007)

Thin Lizzy as a part of the title medley on Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1979)

Richard Thompson on 1000 Years of Popular Music (Beeswing, 2003)

Trampled by Turtles Feat. Rich Mattson on Duluth (Banjodad, 2008)

Virginia Military Institute Glee Club

Sal Viviano on The Standards Of Love - LIVE (FRIARecords, 2008)

Voces8, on their EP "In the Beginning"

Hannes Wader on Hannes Wader Singt Shanties (1978)

Hayley Westenra on Celtic Treasure (Decca B000MTDRJA, 2007)

The Westminster Chorus winning performance in their 2009 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
"Choir of the World" competition set

Mason Williams on Of Time and Rivers Flowing (Skookum, 1984)

Akiko Yano on Love is Here (Epic Sony, 1993)

Youn Sun Nah on Voyage (ACT,2009)

Dan Zanes on Sea Music (2004)

King's Heralds on Favorite American Folk Songs (1984)

Paul Clayton on "Whaling and Sailing Songs from the Days of Moby Dick" (Allmusic, 1956)

Jane Siberry on Hush (Sheeba Records 2000)

The King's Singers on ""The King's Singers: Original Debut Recording""

Méav Ní Mhaolchatha on "The Calling" (2013)

References[edit]

Jump up ^ "About "Shenandoah"" . Song of America Project. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2010-03-06.

Jump up ^ "Sailor Songs", Harper's New Monthly Magazine 65 (386), July 1882: 283

Jump up ^ "Harpers New Monthly Magazine from 1882" . ebooks.library.cornell.edu. Retrieved September
29, 2012.

Jump up ^ The Times (45616) (London). September 12, 1930. p. 8 columnB.

Jump up ^ The Times, Friday, Sep 12, 1930; pg. 8; Issue 45616; col B: Quoted in a letter to the editor written
by A.A. Brookington of Liverpool. Brookington added his informant Laidlaw had later heard it sung "almost
word for word as the sailor of Harland sang it" in 1926 at Monterey Presidio by a captain of the 9th U.S.
Cavalry, and that this regiment, though officered by whites, was made up largely of black troopers. The
letter-writer therefore speculated the song was originally a negro spiritual.

Jump up ^ In a letter to ‘The Times’ a former sailor who had worked aboard clippers carrying wool between
Britain and Australia in the 1880s, suggested it had originated as a black American spiritual which developed
into a work song: ‘This chantey is obviously of American origin...“Shenandoah” was more a wool and cotton
chantey than a capstan chantey. I have many times heard it sung down the hold on the wool screws by the
Sydney waterside workers... and many were full-blood negroes, who undoubtedly brought these chanteys
off the cotton ships...With regard to the words, these vary according to the taste of the chantey man in the
first and third line of each verse, there being no effort called for on these two lines, but the second and
fourth lines were always the same, these being the rhythm lines on which the weight was used. When I was
in the wool trade in the eighties, in both the Tweed and Cutty Sark this chantey was daily used on the wool
screws.’ R. L. ANDREWES. "'Shenandoah'." The Times [London, England] 19 September 1930, p. 6.

Jump up ^ Alfred Mason Williams (1895). Studies in Folk-song and Popular Poetry. London: Elliot Stock. pp.
5–7., as reprinted in Alfred Mason Williams (2005). Studies in Folk-song and Popular Poetry . BiblioBazaar.
ISBN 978-0-559-78728-7.

Jump up ^ David W. Bone (1931). Capstan Bars. Edinburgh: The Porpoise Press. OCLC 896299.

Jump up ^ Sluss, Michael (March 2, 2006). "Proposed state song doesn't bring down the House" . The
Roanoke Times. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
Jump up ^ http://www.gemm.com    Sergio Franchi

R.W. Hampton, Born to be a Cowboy, 1994

External links[edit]

Link to live recording with Sissel singing backed up by The Chieftains

David Bone: Capstan Bars

Old fashioned spelling with midi

Shorter version

NPR interview "The Music and Life of Richard Thompson" (Fresh Air from WHYY with Terry Gross) which
includes the song as sung by Thompson

Categories: 1882 songs19th-century songsAmerican folk songsAmerican Old WestBob Dylan songsJo Stafford
songsJudy Garland songsMissouri RiverSea shantiesSongs of the American Civil WarThe Statler Brothers
songsVan Morrison songsVirginia culture

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Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you

Look away. We're bound away

Across the wide Missouri

Now the Missouri is a mighty river

Look away, you rollin' river.

Indians camp along her border

Look away. We're bound away

Across the wide Missouri

Well a white man loved an Indian maiden

Look away, you rollin' river

With notions his canoe was laden

Look away, we're bound away

Across the wide Missouri

Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter

Look away, you rollin' river

It was for her I'd cross the water.

Look away, we're bound away

Across the wide Missouri

For seven long years I courted Sally

Look away, you rollin' river

Seven more years I longed to have her

Look away, we're bound away

Well, it's fare-thee-well, my dear,

I'm bound to leave you

Look away you rollin' river

Shenandoah, I will not deceive you

Look away, we're bound away

Across the wide Missouri

MUSIC > SONGS

Shenandoah

About Lyrics Download Video CD

Historical Era

Era 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861) Tags

Sea Shanty

Westward Expansion

Work Song

About Shenandoah

Until the nineteenth century only adventurers who sought their fortunes as trappers and traders of beaver
fur ventured as far west as the Missouri River. Most of these men were loners who became friendly with,
and sometimes married, Native Americans.

Shenandoah is said to have originated with French voyageurs traveling down the Missouri River. The lyrics
tell the story of a trader who fell in love with the daughter of an Algonquian chief, Shenandoah. American
sailors heading down the Mississippi River picked up the song and made it a capstan shanty that they sang
while hauling in the anchor.
Lyrics to Shenandoah

Shenandoah

O Shenandoah, I long to hear you Away, you rolling river O Shenandoah, I long to hear you Away, I'm bound
away 'Cross the wide Missouri

Missouri, she's a mighty river Away, you rolling river The Indians camp along her borders Away, I'm bound
away 'Cross the wide Missouri

The white man loved an Indian maiden Away, you rolling river With notions his canoe was laden Away, I'm
bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri

O Shenandoah, I love your daughter Away, you rolling river For her I've crossed the rolling water Away, I'm
bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri

Seven long years I courted Sally Away, you rolling river Seven more I longed to have her Away, I'm bound
away 'Cross the wide Missouri

Farewell, my dear, I'm bound to leave you Away, you rolling river O Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you Away,
I'm bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri