Oh Shenandoah facts for kids
"Oh Shenandoah" (also called simply "Shenandoah" or "Across the Wide Missouri") is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating to the early 19th century.
The song appears to have originated with American and Canadian voyageurs or fur traders traveling down the Missouri River in canoes, and has developed several different sets of lyrics. Some lyrics refer to the Oneida chief Shenandoah and a canoe-going trader who wants to marry his daughter. By the mid 1800s versions of the song had become a sea shanty heard or sung by sailors in various parts of the world.
The song is number 324 in the Roud Folk Song Index.
Lyrics
Since "Shenandoah" was a riverman's and then sailor's song and went through numerous changes and versions over the years and centuries, there are no set lyrics. Modern lyrics are usually some variation of the following:
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Earlier versions
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Lyrics from prior to 1860, as given in Sea Songs and Shanties, collected by W. B. Whall, Master Mariner (1910) were reported as follows:
- 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.
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:
- 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,
- Away, you rolling river!
- An' I ain't goin' to see her never.
- Ha, Ha! I'm bound away, (&c.)
Lyrics to "Oh Shenandoah" as sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford (1959):
- Oh Shenandoah, I hear you calling,
- Hi-o, you rolling river.
- Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
- Hi-o, I'm bound away.
- 'Cross the wide, Mis-sou-ri.
- Mis-sou-ri, She's a mighty river,
- Hi-o, you rolling river.
- When she rolls down, her topsails shiver,
- Hi-o, I'm bound away,
- 'Cross the wide, Mis-sou-ri.
- Farewell my dearest, I'm bound to leave you,
- Hi-o, you rolling river.
- Oh Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
- Hi-o, I'm bound away.
- 'Cross the wide Mis-sou-ri.
Modern usage
The song is popular in local organizations such as Shenandoah University, Southern Virginia University, Washington and Lee University, and the Virginia Military Institute.
In 2006 "Shenandoah" was proposed as the "interim state song" for Virginia, with updated lyrics. The proposal was contentious because the standard folksong refers to the Missouri River, and in most versions of the song the name "Shenandoah" refers to an Indian chief, not the Shenandoah Valley or Shenandoah River which lie almost entirely in Virginia. In 2015, "Our Great Virginia", which uses the melody of "Shenandoah" was designated by the Virginia Legislature as the official traditional state song of Virginia.
It features in the soundtrack of the 1965 movie, Shenandoah, starring Jimmy Stewart. It is also heard repeatedly in 1947's Mourning Becomes Electra, and as part of a medley in the 1962 film How the West Was Won. The choir arrangement of the song has also been used in the films The Good Shepherd (film) and Nixon (film).
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
Various arrangements by Percy Grainger have been recorded by John Shirley-Quirk and other classically trained singers. "A song of the waters: variations on the folksong Shenandoah" is a classical composition by James Cohn. At least one version was arranged by Leslie Woodgate.
The song was used in the HBO television series The Newsroom, season 3, episode 5, "Oh Shenandoah".
This song was also performed by the main character and his friends in the Netflix TV series House of Cards, season 1, chapter 8.
Selected notable recordings
- Daniela Anahí Bessia with Andy Santana Bass for the Shanghai Government - China (single, 2018)
- New College Choir on Early one Morning (Erato, 1997)
- The King's Heralds on "Favorite American Folk Songs" (Acclaim Music, 1984)
- Heather Alexander on Arms of the Sea (Sea Fire Productions, 2006)
- Dave Alvin on Public Domain: Songs from the Wild Land (Hightone Records, 2000)
- Bobby Bare on Darker Than Night (Plowboy Records, 2012)
- Harry Belafonte on a 1952 single and on Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (RCA Records, 1959)
- David Berkeley on Some Kind of Cure (2011)
- Glen Campbell on The Artistry of Glen Campbell (Capitol, 1972) and 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 (1994) and Chanticleer: A Portrait (Teldec, 2003)
- Liam Clancy, on The Wheels of Life (2008)
- Paul Clayton on Whaling and Sailing Songs from the Days of Moby Dick (Allmusic, 1956)
- The Corries on Flower of Scotland (Moidart, 2006)
- Bing Crosby on How the West Was Won (RCA Records, 1959)
- David Daniels on A Quiet Thing (Virgin Classics 724354560025, 2003)
- Connie Dover on Somebody (Taylor Park Music, 1991)
- Bob Dylan on Down in the Groove (1988)
- Fisherman's Friends on Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends (2010)
- Tennessee Ernie Ford on Shenandoah (Red Door Productions, 1959) and The Folk Album (Capitol, 1971)
- Sergio Franchi on Live at The Coconut Grove (RCA, 1965)
- Jerry Garcia and David Grisman on Not For Kids Only (1993)
- Judy Garland on That Old Feeling - Classic Ballads from the Judy Garland Show (Savoy Jazz label, 2005)
- Terry Gilkyson and The Weavers (as "Across the Wide Missouri") (Decca 27515-A, 1951)
- Nathan Gunn on American Anthem (EMI, 1999)
- Arlo Guthrie on Son of the Wind (Rising Son, 1994)
- R.W. Hampton on Born to be a Cowboy (1994)
- Thomas Hampson on Song of America (Angel Records, 2005)
- Yale Glee Club multiple recordings; SATB, TTBB; arrangements by Fenno Heath
- Harvard Glee Club on multiple recordings; arrangements by Archibald T. Davison and Jameson Marvin
- Michael Holliday on Hi! (EMI Columbia, 1957)
- Keith Jarrett on The Melody at Night, with You (ECM Records, 1999)
- The Kelly Family on Honest Workers (1991)
- 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)
- Sissel Kyrkjebø on In Symphony (2001) and on Sissel (2002 album) (2002)
- Norman Luboff Choir on "Songs of the Sea" (Columbia, 1956)
- Roger McGuinn on Limited Edition (April First Productions, 2004)
- Michigan State University Children's Choir on America the Beautiful: Songs of Our Heritage
- The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square on multiple recordings including America's Choir, Choral Adagios, Essential Choral Classics.
- Van Morrison with The Chieftains on The Irish in America: Long Journey Home (RCA, 1998)
- Leontyne Price on God Bless America (RCA, 1982)
- Jerry Reed on A Good Woman's Love (RCA, 1974)
- The Tony Rice Unit on Unit of Measure (Rounder Records, 2000)
- Paul Robeson on multiple recordings since 1936 including Ballads for Americans, The Essential Paul Robeson, Spirituals, Folksongs & Hymns
- Pete Seeger on American Favorite Ballads, Volume 1 (Smithsonian Folkways, 2002)
- Men of the Robert Shaw Chorale on Sea Shanties (RCA Victor, 1961)
- Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band on We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Columbia, 2006)
- Jo Stafford on American Folk Songs (Corinthian, 1950)
- The Ebony Hillbillies on Sabrina's Holiday (EH Music, 2004)
- The Statler Brothers on Big Country Hits (Columbia, 1967)
- Bryn Terfel on A Song in My Heart (UCJ, 2007)
- Hayley Westenra on Celtic Treasure (Decca B000MTDRJA, 2007)
- Tom Waits with Keith Richards on Son of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys (Anti-, 2013).
- Renée Fleming with Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin on Two Worlds (Decca, 2000)
- Jane Siberry on Hush (Sheeba, 2000)
- Trampled by Turtles on Duluth (Banjodad, 2008)
- Sherrill Milnes on Recital 2 (VAI, 1998)
