Lyrics

Shenandoah

Shenandoah, I long ter hear yer
Ch. Away, you rollin’ river!
O Shenandoah, I cain’t git near yer,
Ch. Away, I’m bound away, ‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Ch. Away, you rollin’ river!
Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Ch. Away, I’m bound away, ‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I’m bound to leave you,
Ch. Away, you rollin’ river!
Oh, Shenandoah, I’m bound to leave you
Ch. Away, I’m bound away, ‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Ch. Away, you rollin’ river!
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you
Ch. Away, I’m bound away, ‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Song Notes

Shenandoah is considered by many to be the most beautiful of all documented sea shanties.  It has several versions with very different origin stories.  For myself, the version that I learned came from the booklet provided by the First Monday Sea Shanty Sing-Out in Milwaukee that was hosted by David HB Drake circa 2003.  In that version, the Indian chief, his daughter, the land, and the river were all named Shenandoah.  I found it somewhat confusing.   The version printed above came from a source that I never wrote down, but if I can ever find one that makes some kind of sense I’ll post it here, instead. — Dean Calin