Shady Grove
Bill Monroe/Horace "Benny" Williams/Owen Bradley Lyrics
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Eyes of the deepest brown
You are the darling of my heart
Stay till she sun goes down
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove my little love
Standin' in the door
Shose and stockin's in her hand
I'm bound to go away
Shady Grove my little love
Standin' in the door
Shose and stockin's in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
Wish I had a big, fine horse
And the Corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
I used to have an old banjo
The strings were made of twine
The only song that it would play
Was "Trouble on my Mind".
Peaches in the summertime
Apples in the fall
If I can't have the girl I love
I won't have none at all.
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
Don't wait till Judgment Day
The song "Shady Grove" by Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys is a classic love ballad that tells the story of a man deeply in love with his sweetheart, Shady Grove. He describes her as having cheeks as red as the blooming rose and eyes of the deepest brown. He tells her to stay until the sun goes down and declares his love for her. However, he also acknowledges that he must leave and wishes he had a big, fine horse and corn to feed him on, and wishes Shady Grove could stay at home and feed the horse while he's gone. The song ends with the melancholic line "Don't wait till Judgment Day," suggesting that the man fears he may not see his lover again.
The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery, painting a picture of a romanticized past where love was simpler and life was slower. The use of simple language and repetition of the chorus adds to the song's charm and ensures its place as a beloved classic in bluegrass music.
Line by Line Meaning
Cheeks as red as the blooming rose
Your cheeks are as red as a blooming rose
Eyes of the deepest brown
Your eyes are the deepest shade of brown
You are the darling of my heart
You are the beloved of my heart
Stay till she sun goes down
Stay with me until the sun sets
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my love
Shady Grove, I say
I say, Shady Grove
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my love
I'm going to leave you here
I'm leaving you here
Shady Grove my little love
Shady Grove, my love
Standin' in the door
You're standing in the doorway
Shose and stockin's in her hand
You hold shoes and stockings in your hand
I'm bound to go away
I am obligated to leave
Shady Grove my little love
Shady Grove, my love
Standin' in the door
You're standing in the doorway
Shose and stockin's in her hand
You hold shoes and stockings in your hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
Your little bare feet touch the floor
Wish I had a big, fine horse
I wish I had a beautiful horse
And the Corn to feed him on
And corn to feed it with
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And for Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
And feed the horse while I'm away
I used to have an old banjo
I once had an old banjo
The strings were made of twine
It had strings made of twine
The only song that it would play
The banjo could only play one song
Was "Trouble on my Mind".
It played "Trouble on my Mind".
Peaches in the summertime
Peaches in the summer
Apples in the fall
Apples in the fall
If I can't have the girl I love
If I can't have the girl I love
I won't have none at all.
Then I don't want any
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my love
Shady Grove, I say
I repeat, Shady Grove
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my love
Don't wait till Judgment Day
Don't wait until Judgment Day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KENNETH CHESNEY, BUDDY CANNON, TIMOTHY HENSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho
(chorus)
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cheeks as red a a blooming rose
And eyes are the prettiest brown
She's the darling of my heart
Sweetest girl in towm
(chorus)
(break)
I wish I had a big fine horse
And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
(chorus)
(break)
Went to see my Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stockin's in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
(chorus)
(break)
When I was a little boy
I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove
To say she'll be my wife
(chorus)
(break)
A kiss form pretty little Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
And ther ain't no girl in this old world
That's's prettier than mine
(chorus)
Chris Jarvis
Peaches in the summertime
Apples in the fall
If I can't have the one I love I won't have none at all
(Chorus)
Used to have an old banjo
Strings were made of twine
The only song that it would play
Was troubles on my mind
Chorus
Wish I had a piece of thread
Fine as I could sew
I'd sew my lover to my breast
And never let her go
Chorus
Annihilator
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cheeks as red as a blooming rose
And eyes are the prettiest brown
She's the darling of my heart
Sweetest little girl in town
Oh, Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
I wish I had a big, fine horse
And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Went to see my Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stockings in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
When I was a little boy
I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove
To say she'll be my wife
Oh, Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Kiss from pretty little Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
And there ain't no girl in this whole world
That's prettier than mine
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cucktagon
I sang it in choir around 3rd grade, fit perfectly with the first WARRIOR cat books, which was why i remembered it so well. Makes me cry the more it comes back to me.
"Cheeks as red as a bloomin' rose, eyes of the deepest brown- you are the darling of my heart, stay till' the sun goes down...
Shady grove, my little love, shady grove, i know. Shady grove, my little love, shady grove i know..
Shady grove, my little love, standing in the door- shoes and stockings in her hands and her little bare feet on the floor...
I wish i had a fine big horse with corn to feed him on- and shady grove to stay at home ad feed him when im gone...
Shady grove, my little love, bound for the shady grove-
bound for the shady grove,
bound for the shady grove,
Bound for the Shaady Grrove!"
Mr M
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cheeks as red a a blooming rose
And eyes are the prettiest brown
She's the darling of my heart
Sweetest girl in town
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
I wish I had a big fine horse
And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Went to see my Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stocking's in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
When I was a little boy
I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove
To say she'll be my wife
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
A kiss form pretty little Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
And there ain't no girl in this old world
That's prettier than mine
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
OldWaysFollower
And where is my black horse
And where are the reins?
And where is my sweetheart,
And where is my girl?
Chorus:
Shady Grove, my true love.
Shady Grove, I say.
Shady Grove, my true love,
Why have I gone away?
In the West is my heart,
In the East my loving.
In the East is my girl,
That's where I am going.
In the stable is my horse,
My reins and my spurs.
In my house is my sweetheart,
Prettiest of all girls.
And where is my old well
I've been bathing in?
And where is my old hut
I've been living in?
And where is the old path
I've been walking on?
Walking with my sweetheart,
Towards the setting sun.
Adapted and translated from the old Polish folk song "Kare konie" (Black horses), which has a similiar rhythm and theme as Shady Grove: love, separation of lovers, longing, a guy praising his sweetheart and willing to be with her (in some versions only to find that she is already married and his well, hut etc have been long ruined while he was away from his home village or town).
Greenwolfe Green
I am a cousin of Doc Watson. When I was 10 years old my father took me to Doc's house. It was before Doc was well known, about 1961. My father asked Doc to play and sing for us. He did just that. I feel so fortunate to have heard Doc sing and play just for me and my father. This is my favorite song. RIP DOC.
S WI
I am also a distant relative on my Father’s side of the family. Love his music.
MrWilly2204
Amazing!
Col_Sanders
That's the coolest story I've heard in a long time. Bluegrass wouldn't be what it is without people like Doc, Flatt, Scruggs, etc.
Suzanne Hedderly
Wow. How lucky were you! What a great memory. He was royalty.
Joe Buck Hoff
I'd tell everyone that too!
I just turned 37. The last couple years I got into bluegrass thinking about my grandpa who passed years ago. He used to sing and play on his harmonica. I realized he was very into Doc. 1 day i was shoveling snow with my pa and I had Doc playing on spotify. We both stopped and looked at each other and were like this is 1 of the songs grandpa loved smiled and went back to work. 🙂
TheKraKen
I'm actually so sad Doc Watson is gone. He was a true pioneer of folk and bluegrass guitar. He will forever be in our hearts and minds both because of his music and his being. RIP.
albatross7677
Doc Watson is an American treasure!!
Ka
not only american - human treasure
conniedukejewelry
I am sad that such a talented man is gone from us. He is a favorite of mine and I always enjoy his honest music...honest in the fact that it is raw and not "enhanced" by studio editing. ♥