SHENANDOAH
(aka "Oh Shenandoah" and "Across the Wide Missouri")
SONG HISTORY:
Traditional late 18th Century American/Canadian song pertaining to the fur traders
along the Missouri River. By 1825 it had become a well known sea shanty sung by
sailors around the world. Many different versions exist, but the origins are thought
most likely to be in a story of a French-Canadian fur trader who loved the daughter
of Oskanondonha (later to be called John Skenandoah), War Chief of the Oneida
tribe. He supported the British against the French in the "French and Indian War"
of 1754-1763. His anti-French stance may well be the reason that he refused to
condone the love between his daughter and the French fur trader.
Henry Burr & Albert Campbell - 1917
John Goss - 1925
Dale Smith - 1932
Geraldo, His Accordeon Band & Male Chorus - 1933
Paul Robeson - 1936
The Georgian Singers - 1941
Paul Weston & His Orch. (vocal: Norman Luboff Choir) - 1951
Hugo Winterhalter & His Orch. (vocal: Stuart Foster) - 1951
Harry Belafonte - 1952
Oscar Natzke - 1954
Sam Gary - 1957
Pete Seeger - 1958
Richard Hayes - 1958
Robert Horton - 1960
The Browns - 1961
Davy Jones - 1961
Jo Stafford - 1962
Johnny Mann Singers - 1962
Roy Castle - 1962
Odetta - 1963
Jimmy Dean - 1964
Ray Campi - 1964
Mitch Miller & The Gang - 1964
Harve Presnell - 1965
The Brothers Four - 1967
The Rangers - 1968
Tennessee Ernie Ford - 1971
Charlie McCoy (Instr.) - 1973
Summer Wine - 1973
Jerry Reed - 1974
Mickey Newbury - 1977
Rodney Lay & The Wild West - 1979
Roger Whittaker - 1987
Also recorded by:
Duane Eddy; Stuart Gillespie; Bob Dylan; Emmylou Harris; The Beauchemins;
Deaxville Trio; Leon Bibb; Sissel; James Last; Charlie McCoy; Johnny Mathis;
James Galway; Kamahl; The Goldbriars; Michael Landon; Bruce Springsteen;
Lou Reizner; Helga Und Klaus; King's Singers; Tommy Jones; Terry Sumsion;
Ken Carson; Jan Lindblad; Lloyd's Of London Male Voice Choir; Joe Dowell;
Neva Eder; Roger Wagner Chorale; George Melachrino Orch.; Joan Meyers;
Mormon Tabernacle Choir ........ and many others.
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
********************
ALTERNATE VERSION (1)
Oh, Shenandoah's my native valley
Aa-way, you rolling river
Shenandoah is my native valley
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross the 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 the wide Missouri
Oh, Shenandoah has rushing waters
Aa-way, you rolling river
Shenandoah has rushing waters
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross the wide Missouri
Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughters
Aa-way, you rolling river
Shenandoah, I love your daughters
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross the wide Missouri
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you
Aa-way, you rolling river
Shenandoah, I long to see you
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross the wide Missouri
Oh, Shenandoah, I'm boun' t' leave you
Aa-way, you rolling river
Shenandoah, I'm boun' t' leave you
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross the wide Missouri
Oh, Shenandoah, I'll never grieve you
Aa-way, you rolling river
Shenandoah, I'll never grieve you
Ah-way, we're bound to go, 'cross the wide Missouri
********************
ALTERNATE VERSION (2)
Missouri, she’s a mighty river
Away you rolling river
The redskins’ camp, lies on its borders
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
The white man loved the Indian maiden
Away you rolling river
With notions his canoe was laden
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
“O, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away you rolling river
I’ll take her ‘cross yon rolling water”
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
The chief disdained the trader’s dollars
Away you rolling river
“My daughter never you shall follow”
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
At last there came a Yankee skipper
Away you rolling river
He winked his eye, and he tipped his flipper
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
He sold the chief that fire-water
Away you rolling river
And ‘cross the river he stole his daughter
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
“O, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away you rolling river
Across that wide and rolling river”
Ah-ha, I’m bound away, ‘cross the wide Missouri
********************
As recorded by HARVE PRESNELL
with Geoff Love & His Orchestra & The Lisa Grey Singers:
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Way 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
Way, you rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, I'm bound away, 'cross the wide Missouri.
Oh, who will tie your shoes
And who will glove your hands
And who will kiss your ruby lips when I am gone
Look away, look away over Yondro
Your father will tie your shoes
Your mother will glove your hands
And I will kiss your ruby lips when I return
Look away, look away over Yondro
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Way, you rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you
Away, I'm bound away, 'cross the wide Missouri
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - May 2019)
