In 2002, she released The Song They Sang... When Rome Fell. In 2003, she was a winner of the New Folk Competition, at the Kerrville Folk Festival. In 2004, her second album, Hymns for the Exiled, was released (Waterbug Records).
On 8 Dec 2006, Anaïs' 'folk opera' "Hadestown" débuted (written / produced in collaboration with composer Michael Chorney & director Ben T. Matchstick). On 13 Feb 2007, her third album, The Brightness was released (Righteous Babe).
Hadestown, a concept album based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, was released on March 9, 2010. It features contributions from Justin Vernon as Orpheus, Ani DiFranco as Persephone, Greg Brown as Hades, and Ben Knox Miller as Hermes; Anais herself sings the part of Eurydice.
Her album, 'Young Man in America' was released on Wilderland Records in the UK on February 13, 2012 and in the US on February 28, 2012.
shenandoah
Anaïs Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mercy on my memory
I'm lying 'neath the same Virginia sky
Where she lay beside me, biding time
Trying to abide me
Every night when the night was long
She was clinging to me
Told me twice that her love was strong
She was singing to me
O, shenandoah
Cross the rolling water
O, shenandoah
Where's your restless daughter?
Don't know what I gave them for
All my little lessons
How you start the peas before the corn
How you start before the air is warm
She was never listening
I could see it there in her sorry eyes
Hear it in her breathing
Didn't come to me like some surprise
Didn't even ask her why
When she said, "I'm leaving"
O, shenandoah
Cross the rolling water
O, shenandoah
Where's your willful daughter?
I brought in the winter squash
I brought in the melon
Cortland, empire, macintosh
On the afternoon before the frost
I could feel it coming
I can see her now in her flowery clothes
All of those things I bought her
Trailing her perfume wherever she goes
Cross the rolling water
Shenandoah
Where's your reckless daughter?
Shenandoah
Mercy on your daughter
In the song Shenandoah by Anaïs Mitchell, the singer is reflecting on a lost love who has left him. He is lying beneath the same Virginia sky where they used to be together, and the memories of her are flooding back. He wishes for mercy on his mind and memory, as he is haunted by thoughts of their past. He remembers how she used to cling to him every night, telling him that her love for him was stronger than any love in old love songs. However, despite his attempts to teach her life lessons, she was never really listening to him, and he could sense that she was unhappy. One day she told him she was leaving, and he didn't even ask why, it didn't come as a surprise. As he reflects on their relationship, he wonders where she is now and hopes for mercy on her soul.
The lyrics of Shenandoah reference the traditional American folk song of the same name, which is thought to have originated from a sea shanty. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, and its origins are somewhat unclear. However, its haunting melody and poetic lyrics have made it a classic American folk song. Anaïs Mitchell's version draws on the themes of the traditional song, which is about a man who is in love with the daughter of an Indian chief named Shenandoah.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord have mercy on my mind
Asking for kindness to help cope with emotional pain
Mercy on my memory
Asking for mercy on the past events that continue to afflict one's emotional state
I'm lying 'neath the same Virginia sky
Recalling a shared memory with a loved one under the same sky
Where she lay beside me, biding time
Reflecting on a loved one who patiently waited and supported one's goals
Trying to abide me
Struggling to stay committed to one's relationship with a loved one
Every night when the night was long
Reflecting on how a loved one provided solace on long and difficult nights
She was clinging to me
Remembering the physical and emotional attachment with a loved one
Told me twice that her love was strong
Recollecting a loved one's affirmation of their love on more than one occasion
Stronger than the love in old love songs
Comparing a loved one's love to the greatest love stories from the past
She was singing to me
Recollecting how a loved one's voice provided comfort
O, shenandoah
Addressing the river that has memories associated with the loved one
Cross the rolling water
Reflecting on the journey taken with the loved one across the river
Where's your restless daughter?
Acknowledging that the loved one has left and questioning where they are
Don't know what I gave them for
Confusion over what was done to push the loved one away
All my little lessons
Reflecting on the small things taught to the loved one
How you start the peas before the corn
Remembering a gardening lesson shared with the loved one
How you start before the air is warm
Further describing the gardening lesson shared with the loved one
She was never listening
Realizing the loved one may not have paid attention or cared for these shared moments
I could see it there in her sorry eyes
Recalling the sadness in the loved one's eyes before they left
Hear it in her breathing
Recalling the emotional distress in the loved one's breath before they left
Didn't come to me like some surprise
Knowing deep down that the loved one was going to leave
Didn't even ask her why
Having felt that they already knew the reason behind the loved one's departure
When she said, "I'm leaving"
Recalling the exact words spoken by the loved one before they left
Where's your willful daughter?
Questioning where the loved one went and what determined their decision
I brought in the winter squash
Recalling how the singer harvested winter squash
I brought in the melon
Recalling how the singer harvested melons
Cortland, empire, macintosh
Naming the types of apples harvested as a shared activity with the loved one
On the afternoon before the frost
Remembering when the harvest took place
I could feel it coming
Sensing the weather that would soon threaten the harvest
I can see her now in her flowery clothes
Recollecting what the loved one wore during the harvest
All of those things I bought her
Memorializing the tokens of affection shared with the loved one
Trailing her perfume wherever she goes
Recalling the loved one's perfume scent
Where's your reckless daughter?
Asking where the loved one went and if they are safe in their journey
Shenandoah
Addressing the river that still holds memories of the loved one
Mercy on your daughter
Asking the river to watch over and protect the loved one on their journey
Contributed by Anthony L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.