SHENANDOAH
Chanticleer Lyrics


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O Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, you rollin' river.
O Shenandoah, I long to see you.
Away I'm bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.

O Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away, you rollin' river.
O Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away I'm bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Away, you rollin' river.
O Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
Away I'm bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.

For seven long years I've been a rover,
Away, you rollin' river,
But I'll return to be your lover,




Away I'm bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chanticleer's song Shenandoah paint a picture of a longing for a place called Shenandoah, represented by a rolling river. The singer expresses his desire to see and revisit Shenandoah, but he is bound to cross the wide Missouri. The river becomes a symbol of distance and separation but also a connector that leads him to Shenandoah.


The singer also talks about his love for Shenandoah's daughter and how he will not deceive her when he leaves to cross the wide Missouri. The lyrics show a sense of responsibility and loyalty to those left behind. The song then ends on a hopeful note, with the promise of coming back to Shenandoah after seven long years of wandering. The song makes use of metaphorical language and creates a vivid image of a river that connects two locations and becomes symbolic of love, separation, and longing.


Line by Line Meaning

O Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Oh Shenandoah, I yearn to visit and behold your beauty.


Away, you rollin' river.
You, the flowing water, are separating us from being together.


O Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Oh Shenandoah, I'm in love with your young woman.


Away, you rollin' river.
You, the rolling river, are preventing me from being with the one I love.


O Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Oh Shenandoah, I must depart from you.


O Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
Oh Shenandoah, I will not trick or betray you.


Away I'm bound to go
I must travel away from you, the rolling river.


'Cross the wide Missouri.
I'll be crossing the wide Missouri to reach my destination.


For seven long years I've been a rover,
I have been wandering and traveling for seven years now.


Away, you rollin' river,
You, the rolling river, have been accompanying me all through my journey.


But I'll return to be your lover,
But I will come back to be with the one I love.


Away I'm bound to go
I must depart from you, the rolling river.


'Cross the wide Missouri.
I'll be crossing the wide Missouri while on my way back.




Writer(s): Donald James Erb Copyright: Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Contributed by Jacob E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Ryan Austin


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