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  1. Shenandoah

From the recording Lightened By Love - Download

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12. Shenandoah (4:08) (Traditional)

‘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. I learned this song back in grade school (when we had music classes twice weekly as part of the normal curriculum - unheard of today!). I have always done this song as a solo guitar/vocal piece, because I feel the lyric needs to be as prominent as possible. But in my head, I’ve also heard a fiddle on this, sweet and plaintive. Danny Ellison came in and gave me exactly what I heard (and made me cry in the studio!). I’m incredibly pleased with the result…

Lyrics

O, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away you rollin’ river
O, Shenandoah, I can't get near you
A-way, I’m bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missour-i

A trapper loves an Indian maiden
Away you rollin’ river
With presents his canoe is laden
A-way, I’m bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missour-i

O, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away you rollin’ river
For her, I’d cross the ragin’ water
A-way, I’m bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missour-i

A-way, I’m bound to go
‘Cross the wide…. Missour…i