Shenandoah
More actions
Shenandoah is a traditional song from the American South, often used as a capstan shanty. It is attested as far back as the 1860s[1] under several titles, including "Rolling River", "World of Misery", and "Across the Wide Missouri"; British versions often give creative spellings of the title, including "Shenandore" and "Shanadar".[2] Whether the song was a shore song or shanty first has been the subject of much discussion, but is ultimately unclear.[3]
Factoids
Multiple collectors have commented on how "clean" this song is, containing no sexually suggestive lyrics, although how accurate this was in practice is certainly open to debate. Stan Hugill commented that, "when crossed, as it often was, with 'Sally Brown' (owing to her having a daughter like Shenandoah) not even the most broadminded collector could call it clean."[4]
Some versions of the lyrics refer explicitly to the historical figure of Skenandoa (often called "Shenandoah"), a chief of the Oneida people. In these, it is his daughter whom the narrator loves; she may or may not end up kidnapped by or eloping with the narrator, depending on the version.[5] Other variants seem to refer to the Shenandoah River, a tributary of the Potomac that runs through modern-day Virginia and West Virginia, or its concomitant valley.
Lyrics
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams.
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
(Away, you rolling river)
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
(Away, I'm bound to go
'cross the wide Missour-i) [continues throughout]
The chief disdained the trader's dollars
My daughter you shall never follow
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
For her I'd cross the stormy water
For seven long years I courted Sally
For seven more, she took me fancy
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Oh Shenandoah, I'll nor deceive you
Away, I'm bound to go
'cross the wide Missour-i
Recordings
YouTube Videos
Full Band Streams
- The Longest Johns and Friends, April w/ Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith (30 April 2019)
- (New Merch) I’m Goin’ Off the Rails on a Crazy Stream (14 Oct 2020)
- All Aboard the Stream Locomotive (2 Jun 2021)
- Be Stream And Not Heard (6 Oct 2021)
- Exstream Close-up (31 May 2022)
- Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)
- Do Androids Stream of Electric Sheep (3 Aug 2023)
- Stream City 2024 (21 Aug 2024)