In 1968, he co-founded the psychedelic rock group Wonderland which also included English ex-patriate Les Humphries who would soon start his own Les Humphries Singers. In 1971, Reichel left the group for his own progressive Krautrock solo project, A. R. & Machines, of which the first album Die grüne Reise (The green journey) was critically acclaimed and likened to bands such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Since 1975, Reichel has taken a keen interest in recording traditional German songs and classic poetry as modern-style music, which includes such albums as Dat Shanty Alb'm (1975), Klabautermann (1977), Regenballade (1978), Fledermaus (1988), Melancholie & Sturmflut (1991, including the hit Aloha Heja He), Wilder Wassermann (2002), and Volxlieder (2006).
Shenandoah
Achim Reichel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Way – you rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
'Way – we're bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
'Way – you rolling river
'Way – we're bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
'Way – you rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you
'Way – we're bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
'Way – you rolling river
I'll take her 'cross the rolling water
'Way – we're bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Shenandoah is a folk song which is believed to have originated from the American West. The song is a tribute to the Missouri river, which was a primary means of transportation for many settlers moving westward during the 19th century. In the song, the singer sings about his love for Shenandoah, the daughter of the river, and his longing to hear her again. The song takes on a melancholic tone as the singer must bid farewell to Shenandoah and cross the Missouri river on his journey.
The romantic nature of the song is amplified by the usage of the name Shenandoah, which is a Native American word that means "daughter of the stars". The song is also highly metaphorical, as the river is portrayed as a force of life that gives and takes away. The singer's love for Shenandoah is likened to the love a person holds for nature, which is a recurring theme in many folk songs.
The song took on national significance during the American Civil War, and some believe it was used by soldiers on both sides of the conflict. The song's tempo and lyrics were altered in different parts of the country to suit different purposes, ranging from a battle cry to a lullaby. Despite the alterations, the underlying message and themes of the song have remained largely unchanged.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
I deeply desire to listen to you, oh Shenandoah
'Way – you rolling river
You, rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
I deeply desire to listen to you, oh Shenandoah
'Way – we're bound away
We are sailing away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Across the wide Missouri river
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
I dearly love your daughter, oh Shenandoah
'Way – you rolling river
You, rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
I dearly love your daughter, oh Shenandoah
'Way – we're bound away
We are sailing away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Across the wide Missouri river
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
I am obligated to leave you, oh Shenandoah
'Way – you rolling river
You, rolling river
Oh Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you
I won't lie to you, oh Shenandoah
'Way – we're bound away
We are sailing away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Across the wide Missouri river
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
I dearly love your daughter, oh Shenandoah
'Way – you rolling river
You, rolling river
I'll take her 'cross the rolling water
I will take her across the rolling water
'Way – we're bound away
We are sailing away
'Cross the wide Missouri
Across the wide Missouri river
Contributed by Nathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.