Shady Grove
James Alan Shelton Lyrics


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Cheeks as red as a blooming rose
eyes the deepest brown
You are the darling of my heart
Stay till the sun goes down

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
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
Bound to go away

A kiss form 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
Bound to go away

Peaches in the summer time
Apples in the fall
If i can't have my old true love
I won't have them at all

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
Bound to go away




Bound to go away
Bound to go away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to James Alan Shelton's song, Shady Grove, speak of love and the desire to be with someone. The song begins with a description of the beloved's physical attributes, cheeks as red as a blooming rose and the deepest brown eyes, followed by an invitation to stay till the sun goes down. The chorus repeats a name, Shady Grove, which could be the name of the beloved or the place they are in, and acknowledges that while the love is strong now, it is also bound to go away.


The second verse speaks of the singer's childhood desire for a Barlow knife and their current desire for Shady Grove to be their wife, highlighting the shift in priorities and desires as one grows older. The third verse talks about the sweetness of Shady Grove's kiss and the singer's belief that there is no girl prettier than his beloved. The final verse mentions peaches in summer and apples in the fall, but declares that if the singer cannot be with their true love, they do not want them at all.


Overall, the lyrics to Shady Grove compose a simple love song that expresses the desire to be with someone despite the knowledge that love may not last forever.


Line by Line Meaning

Cheeks as red as a blooming rose
Her cheeks are as red as a blooming rose


eyes the deepest brown
Her eyes are the deepest brown


You are the darling of my heart
You are the darling of my heart


Stay till the sun goes down
Stay till the sun goes down


Shady Grove, my little love
Addressing Shady Grove, his little love


Shady Grove I say
Reiterating the name of his little love, Shady Grove


Bound to go away
Knowing that Shady Grove is bound to go away


When I was a little boy
Talking about when he was a little boy


I wanted a Barlow knife
Desired a Barlow knife as a little boy


And now I want little Shady Grove
Now he wants little Shady Grove


To say she'll be my wife
He wants Shady Grove to agree to being his wife


A kiss form little Shady Grove
Describing how sweet a kiss from Shady Grove is


Is sweet as brandy wine
The sweetness of Shady Grove's kiss is likened to that of brandy wine


And there ain't no girl in this old world
There is no girl in this old world


That's prettier than mine
No girl is prettier than Shady Grove


Peaches in the summer time
Talking about peaches in the summer time


Apples in the fall
Talking about apples in the fall


If i can't have my old true love
If he can't have his old true love


I won't have them at all
He won't have them at all


Bound to go away,
Reiterating that Shady Grove is bound to go away


Bound to go away
Restating that Shady Grove is bound to go away


Bound to go away
Affirming again that Shady Grove is bound to go away




Writer(s): Traditional, Pepita Emmerichs, Olivia Hally

Contributed by Kaylee G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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