Oh Shenandoah
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"Oh Shenandoah" (also called simply "Shenandoah") is an American folk song, dating to the early 19th century. With possible origins in Virginia, noting that its title is also the name of a Virginia river, the song has been considered for that state's official state song. In his 1931 book on sea and river chanteys entitled Capstan Bars, David Bone wrote that "Oh Shenandoah" originated as a river chanty and then became popular with sea-going crews in the early 1800s. The Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton noted in 2005 that Missouri artist George Caleb Bingham immortalized the jolly flatboatmen who plied the Missouri River in the early 1800s; these same flatboatmen were known for their chanties, including the haunting "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.The lyrics tell the story of a roving trader in love with the daughter of an Indian chief; the rover tells the chief of his intent to take the girl with him far to the west, across the Missouri River.
- 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,
- I'll take her
- 'cross your rollin' water,
- Away, I'm bound away
- 'Cross the wide Missouri.
- 'Tis seven long years
- since last I saw you.
- Away you rolling river,
- 'Tis seven long years
- since last I saw you.
- Away, I'm bound away
- 'Cross the wide Missouri.
- Oh Shenandoah,
- I love your daughter,
- Away you rolling river,
- Oh Shenandoah,
- I'll come to claim her.
- Away, I'm bound away
- 'Cross the wide Missouri.
- In all these years,
- Whene'er I saw her,
- We have kept
- Our love a secret,
- Oh! Shenandoah,
- I do adore her,
- Away, I'm bound away
- 'Cross the wide Missouri.
- Oh Shenandoah,
- She's bound to leave you.
- Away you rolling river,
- Oh Shenandoah,
- I'll not deceive you.
- Away, I'm bound away
- 'Cross the wide Missouri.
Interim state song of Virginia
"Shenandoah" is currently the "interim official state song" for the Commonwealth of Virginia, 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 valley or river named "Shenandoah". 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!
External links
- [Congressman Ike Skelton on "Oh Shenandoah"]
- [David Bone: Capstan Bars]
- [Virginia state song debate]
- [Virginia Senate gives approval to interim state song]
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