The first is San Fran… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that go by Chanticleer.
The first is San Francisco-based ensemble known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the seamless blend of its twelve male voices ranging from countertenor to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to venturesome new music. Called “the world's reigning male chorus,” by The New Yorker, and named 2008 Ensemble of the Year by Musical America, Chanticleer will perform more than 100 concerts in 2013-14, the Grammy Award-winning ensemble’s 36th Season. Praised by The San Francisco Chronicle for their “tonal luxuriance and crisply etched clarity,” Chanticleer will tour to 21 of the United States and 12 foreign countries this season, including appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, New York's St. Ignatius Loyola, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Vienna's Musikverein, and Prague's Rudolfinum In 2009, Chanticleer made debut appearances in Ireland and the People's Republic of China and will return to the latter in June for Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
The second is Salt Lake City indie folk artist Andrew Shaw, who also heads a band, The Adonis.
Shenandoah
Chanticleer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
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.
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.
Samuel Ufuah
I'm sorry, can we all just give a round of applause for Eric Alatorre. The only bass I know that can balance 10+ voices, yet still has the capability of overpowering a whole choir? Epic. Just simply epic. Not to mention that 'stache. Uhhh, Eric!
Robert Wilhelm
I had the marvelous opportunity to hear this in person. When you are in the same room as their bass, you could literally and physically feel the vibrations of his low notes.
JW Suicides
wow.
Caroline F.
The 3 counter tenors are amazing, the basses are out of this world... Hell, EVERY SINGLE one of these guys is GOLD! ❤️
Abraao Alfredo Co
The bass, only one, Eric Alatorre
Bravo-Too-Much
Nobody knows what this means.
Dave Keener
This has to be the most beautiful arrangement of this song I have ever heard.
jack dolphy
you'd also like Steven Sametz' :)
Joyful Yes
There's a lovely new arrangement by the bass singer Geoff Castellucci. I got to this video from a comment on his. This song is so lovely, I can't decide whose rendition I like best. 💜😏
Jim Sullivan
I was in a choir in 1980 that recorded this exact arrangement in Oklahoma. It's absolutely incredible to hear and very complicated to get this type of blend in it.