Shady Grove
Jerry Garcia/David Grisman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Peaches in the summertime
Apples in the fall
If I can't have the girl I love
I don't want none at all

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I know
Shady Grove, my little love

I'm bound for Shady Grove

I wish I had a banjo string
Made of golden twine
Every tune I'd play on it
I wish that girl was mine

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I know
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

I wish I had a needle and thread
Fine as I could sew
I'd sew that pretty girl to my side
And down the road I'd go

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I know
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Some come here to fiddle and dance
Some come here to tarry
Some come here to fiddle and dance
I come here to marry

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I know
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Every night when I go home
Wife, I try to please her
The more I try, the worse she gets
Damned if I don't leave her

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I know
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, my darling
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm going back to Harlan

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove, I know

Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Shady Grove" by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman are about a man who is in love with a girl named Shady Grove. The song is divided into several sections where the singer expresses his longing for the girl he loves, wishes for her to be his, and talks about various objects that he could use to achieve his aim. The first stanza mentions the seasons, stressing that no matter the time of year, the singer only wants to be with Shady Grove.

In the second and third stanzas, he wishes for a golden twine to make his banjo sound better and a needle and thread to sew the girl to his side. The fourth stanza echoes traditional folk-song conventions, as it lists the reasons people might come to Shady Grove, but the singer states that he came to marry Shady Grove. In the final stanza, the singer laments his relationship with his current wife and how he can't please her, concluding that he is leaving her to be with his true love in Shady Grove. The lyrics provide a deep insight into the singer's state of mind and what he desires.

Line by Line Meaning

Peaches in the summertime
In the summer, there are delicious peaches

Apples in the fall
In the fall, there are delicious apples

If I can't have the girl I love
If I cannot be with the love of my life

I don't want none at all
Then I don't want anyone else either

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my dear one

Shady Grove, I know
I am familiar with Shady Grove

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my beloved

I'm bound for Shady Grove
I am destined to go there

I wish I had a banjo string
I desire a banjo string

Made of golden twine
That is made of gold

Every tune I'd play on it
I would play every melody on it

I wish that girl was mine
I wish I could be with that girl

I wish I had a needle and thread
I desire a needle and thread

Fine as I could sew
Able to sew beautifully

I'd sew that pretty girl to my side
I would make that pretty girl mine

And down the road I'd go
Together we would travel

Some come here to fiddle and dance
Some people come here to dance and play music

Some come here to tarry
Some come here to stay

Some come here to fiddle and dance
Some people come here to dance and play music

I come here to marry
But I come here to find my true love and start a family

Every night when I go home
When I return home each evening

Wife, I try to please her
I try to make my wife happy

The more I try, the worse she gets
However, the harder I work, the more difficult she becomes

Damned if I don't leave her
I may have to leave her eventually

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my beloved

Shady Grove, I know
I am familiar with Shady Grove

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my dear one

I'm bound for Shady Grove
I am destined to go there

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my beloved

Shady Grove, my darling
Shady Grove is my darling

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my dear one

I'm going back to Harlan
I am returning to Harlan

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my beloved

Shady Grove, I know
I am familiar with Shady Grove

Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove is my dear one

I'm bound for Shady Grove
I am destined to go there

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jerome J. Garcia, David Jay Grisman, DP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@elizondomountaindewherbert3250

7y↑44

Peaches in the summertime
Apples in the fall
If I can't have the girl I love
I don't want none at all

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, I know
Shady grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

I wish I had a banjo string
Made of golden twine
Every tune I'd play on it
I wish that girl was mine

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, I know
Shady grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

I wish I had a needle and thread
Fine as I could sew
Sew that pretty girl to my side
And down the road I'd go

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, I know
Shady grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Some come here to fiddle and dance
Some come here to tarry
Some come here to fiddle and dance
I come here to marry

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, I know
Shady grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Every night when I go home
Wife, I try to please her
The more I try, the worse she gets
Damned if I don't leave her

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, I know
Shady grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, my darlin'
Shady grove, my little love
I'm goin' back to Berlin

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, I know
Shady grove, my little love
I'm bound for Shady Grove

All comments from YouTube:

@michaelbizzarro624

7y↑92

God the flood of childhood nostalgia. My dad always listened to this album while smoking cigar at night in our cabin out in two rivers Alaska. Everytime I hear this it hits me

@kathleenmills1956

3y↑5

Wow...you explaining it that way made feel like I was right there with you. Wish I had been...sounds like my kind of place.

@user-co4xl7wx3q

3y↑7

Indeed, one of my first girlfriends- her Fad was an accomplished bluegrass musician, and I knew nothing about this type of music. His band played in backyard during a potluck one Summer, this song, just guitar & mandolin, Two vocals...and it was as though I had died and elevated to the House of Songs - the Music of the Angels. I love the Garcia/Grisman version, but how I wish I could recapture those beautiful harmonies I heard that summer evening.
My God

@cstar44b91

3y↑1

That's a beautiful image 😍
What a sweet memory to have!

@elizabethvictoria511

3y↑4

My dad always listened to this while smoking weed lol
But he's gone now and that's why I'm here listening

@Animagolds

51w

SO VIM AQUI PELA SERIE

@Lol_Pig

48w↑2

I never got into folk/Appalachian music until O Brother, then the floodgates opened. This particular cover, his voice is most fitting!

@QuirrellPotter

12y↑6

I am 14, and I grew up listening to this duo. Every night, my mom would play their songs to me. Great, great music.

@gybe2ho

Needs more cow bell 🤔

@chuckjeffery944

Hope you are doing well...

@gill444100

@@chuckjeffery944 Potter, I'm 24 now too, and I share your story <3

@johnhalverson1133

1y↑2

Garcia's guitar and Grisman's mandolin jjust put me in a very special place.

@rail64

14y↑6

Wow. So late I discover this great musician. No wonder he is so missed. Just wow..

@megansenft4709

6y↑21

Jerry's music is like a drug. I instantly feel happy and relaxed on the first tinkling of his guitar.

@extendedpinky

2y↑1

My father in law played this in his truck all the time. I just now found it. Rip bill. Bound to win.

@tobydarling

13y↑15

Have always loved Doc Watson's version of this, but there is something about Jerry's voice that makes this great too. Thanks for posting!

@a1awind

11y↑61

if you think of Jerry soley as a stoner and leader of the grateful dead. if so, you dont know Jerry! what a wonderful talent he was.

@RoyFive

5y↑1

He was much more. This exemplifies it. David "Dawg" Grisman is a class act in his own right on the mandolin.

@blakearpin8315

4y↑1

I know Jerry.

@bobbyb4621

4y↑1

Some even called Captain Piper, were he would play and a bunch of dancing bears and skeletons would appear and dance for da people that weren't dare

@bobbyb4621

4y↑1

@@blakearpin8315 He owes me five bucks.

@bobbyb4621

People gonna hate, it's in da air, cause tooth decay. No one gonna get my hate. Lady who lost two brothers at bar called Elizabeths I believe, best quote2020

7 More Replies...

@frreedy

6y↑16

This always makes me cry. I miss you, Captain Trips.

@MariaRivera-gy2hd

8y↑83

This whole album is still magic..warm sun on a cold soul

@lotuscoma4127

what album is it from

@American-Plague

@@lotuscoma4127 The Pizza Tapes I believe...

@georgekirby7150

39w

@@American-Plaguethe album is called shady grove

@gratefulnotdeadhead7857

4y↑5

Getting tears and goosebumps when I hear Jerry play and sing lets me know he's still with us and not to be so sad.

@22clodius

14y

i had a friend nickname shadygrove , from seatle a hippy of 57 years ,i have no news of him from alot of months ,he was very sick ,he is a lover of traditional american music ,if you know him say me

@nikkigreene6074

3y↑1

I can still hear my Daddy singing this song and playing on it his guitar. My Dad loved Jerry. This song takes me back.

@Obsessive0514

13y↑5

God, I love folk songs. This is beautiful.

@speciallargek

36w

Shady grove my little love I'm bound for shady grove. Jerry!

@jujubeeblossom

14y↑1

Went campin in Tiger Georgia once and for some reason this tune was happily playing in my mind the entire three days...peaceful experience and sorta like a trip to fairyland

@jellyphish2112

9y↑25

Had this song just magically show up in my mind today (hadn't heard it in...well quite some time), love that I just pull it up on youtube...

@b00cephalus

9y↑1

+Jelly Phish wow, the same happened to me at work last night, the tune popped into my head with no lyrics and it damn near drove me crazy all night until I got home and found it and worked/played it out.

@albertlucia6675

3y↑1

Who can give this a thumbs down? Don’t get it.

@stevezurier

You couldn't pigeonhole Jerry, he loved it all, his joy for music came out in whatever he was playing. They were the mind-benders of all time. Country Jerry was something special, though.

@LAKESUMMER1

15y

Miss your music , Mr Garcia

@elizondomountaindewherbert3250

7y↑44

@dadzbluz

6y↑9

Shady grove, my little love
Shady grove, my darlin'
Shady grove, my little love
I'm goin' back to Harlan (County, Kentucky) not Berlin. Thanks for taking the time to share the lyrics!!!

@vlogress11c81

4y↑1

@@dadzbluz I was wondering lmao. I was like why tf would he go to Berlin but then again its Garcia so I was gonna roll with it.

@MelissaThompson432

4y↑1

@@vlogress11c81 I looked it up, and Google credits Garcia and Grisman as the writers, but it's an Appalachian folk song older than they are.

@Ultranothing

15y↑17

I have all of the Dick's Picks, every studio album, and roughly 1,200 Dead boots, and this is still one of my favorite recordings. Though I'll agree that the live stuff is far more raw and emotional than the "perfected" studio mixes. They were the ultimate jam-band, after all.

@The_Lazy_Misfit

2y↑1

post en please. you can see your jerry got 1 million plus views an the newest got like 300 views. i mean share with us….

@slightliestupid9

3y↑1

This specific version always hits different and brings me back to Burnley Station Barboursville , Virginia

@writer125

7y↑1

This song will live forever. And so will Jerry. Miss him everyday.

@writer125

7y↑1

While Jerry is gone, the music will always live forever. Still miss him. Thanx for posting this.

@JonEricMusic

15y↑1

Rest in Peace Jerry! Your music will live on for all of us. Banjoistically yours, Jon Eric

@Tie-dyed-wisdom

11y

music is food for the soul to inspire, relax and travel, what is called music these days is the equivalent to vomit, peices of it where music at once, we need another man like Garcia

@Ultranothing

11y↑2

They were magic, together.

@fluffydolly

14y

jerry going back to his roots.

@earnestw

14y

Shady Grove is the name of his sweetheart, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Grove.

@imtimon7928

4y↑3

Madeline, like the children's book? How sweet.

@writer125

6y↑40

I see 156 idiots hate this. How can anyone hate Jerry & Grisman? I don't get it. Longtime Deadhead, Deadhead forever. Thanx for posting this.

@nategreenfield1349

5y↑1

People that hate this don't know music and are narrow minded. This song is beautiful nothing else needs to be said

@elmoblatch9787

@passthesunshine2416

writer125 now its up to 189 , some people just don't like jerry because of scene associated with him or didn't find him to be a nice person . Ghandi brought the British empire to its knees liberating his fellow brown/black skinned nationals and was hailed as a savior but history also tells us he was racists towards africans and thought of them as lesser equals, animals lacking civility and lack of potential thereof. Me personally , I grew up very young in a restaurant surrounded by teen age dead heads in the 70s. Fond memories emanate when I reflect on those times in regarding the kindness and love I experienced Fromm these "dirty hippies". Fast forward to the late 80's .early 90's dead head scene and what a disgrace I witnessed as these so called "dead heads" acted nothing like the REAL ONES I encountered as a young child. The NEW ONES I encountered seemed very shady, very selfish and untrusting and the vibe had a really scammer type of feel to it using the Dead Tours as a canvas to feed a drug habit or feed ones wallet from the sales of drugs. Continues to this day I imagine. It certainly was present in 2004 jazz fest when rat dog was there and brought shake down street with it. Strolling down shake down street with my wife and I encounter some gas huffers standing by a van whilst a young woman lay unconscious, half her body under the van. No-one lifted a finger to help her up, see if she was okay or cover her private area which had been exposed presumably from her fall. I get why people dont care much for the Dead/Jerry or the Dead Head scene. I found it appalling . I love Jerrys work with grisman and rice . I love the genres. Jerry was as Dylan I believe in that they both became locked in as icons they might not have necessarily chosen fo then selves . For me the Dead has had their moments . Eyes of the World at Anaheim with Branford Marsalis is beyond epic among other like Casey Jones or. Bertha but for me I particularly enjoy the segments of Jerry's musical career with Grisman outside the Grateful Dead's.
I hope this sheds some light/sunshine?
Wishing you wellness and Peace

@writer125

4y↑2

@@passthesunshine2416 I totally agree.

@tahoebum

I have 180 accounts and I thumbs downed from all but one.

1 More Replies...

@daddy1745

7y↑8

my elementary music teacher brought me here the way she sung it was so lovely

@therealbigd2412

7y↑1

daddy mine to

@graysoncornelison5135

5y↑1

Ohh daddy did she do more

@writer125

8y↑12

Will always sound great forever. R.I.P Jerry. Thanx for posting this.

@debralietz6681

This is one of my favorite albums of all time!!! I've loved it-every song-since it came out-There and David-finger pickers from heaven for sure man!!! So so lucky to have seen them live many times-thank you boys-you definitely made my life better and touched my heartnear-miss u still Uncle Jer!!!

@c99sativa

14y↑1

i will always love jerry garcia

@DerekBoldiene360

13y

This song is so good

@alfagtvjan

14y↑3

This is a bluegrass standard and this is the best version I've ever heard. Incredible musicianship from Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. I'd kill to be this good. If you don't get it, keep trying!!!

@ealing456

I never knew this was a bluegrass standard and traditional song. Have loved this rendition for a good few years now.

@4tunt3on3

4y↑4

Just Smokin 🔥

@fuzzymcstuffins2863

My best friend's dad was a dead head and always listened to them. Rest in peace Van! ✌️

@calebpalmer9484

10y↑4

personal favorite, euphoric feeling, flutterbys......

@coravisser727

8y↑6

This is real fantastic the way they played this.

@MrBuzz13

14y

i miss jerry, i miss this angle on life.

@missylissy7991

12y

Thank you! I have respaect for anyone who listens to this anymore!

@torikemmerling5496

6y↑2

We are singing this for our 2018 spring chorus concert!! ❤❤

@fluffydolly

15y

garcia back to his roots.

@brittbortle7149

10y↑3

love the combination of mr garcia and mr grisman .

@LAKESUMMER1

16y

This brings back very good memories for sure .

@scottgoulet1776

9y↑7

This song is so smooth.

@fuzzymcstuffins2863

That last cord always gives me goosebumps

@peacegiver1

15y↑1

Great song..Love this album as well.

@markcross9262

8y↑8

one of my all time favorites

@banjofish

5y↑1

Lovely, lovely track. Although a longtime fan of the Dead I arrived here by a circuitous route. I was listening to the Trees song 'Lady Margaret' from 1970, which is a slight reworking of Fairport Convention's Matty Groves from Liege and Leaf released the year before. What I hadn't realised (until Googling) was that the Fairports paired the traditional Matty Groves story with this totally unrelated Appalachian tune - presumably for the pun on 'Groves', and of course it fitted the lyrics. Who knew? Well probably lots of folk, but it was revelation to me and really exciting to end up hearing Garcia / Grisman performing Shady Grove, a version that is new to me (although there's a raw Shady Grove on the Pizza Tape).

@Combinia

11y↑3

waaaaaaaa i WANT to learn to play this ^^ been singin this song since with my uncle since i was 5 years, lol but that banjo kicks ass!! YIHAA!

@leandrodfcorreia2

3y↑1

Thanks, Raymond Reddington.

@jclar7210

7y↑2

Wonderful stuff!, if there was music for the afterlife, this would be it, I was 23 when Jerry left.

@Mygrassisblue01

14y

there is also a Shady Grove in Missouri.

@amyike1

14y

@Ultranothing Couldn't agree more! I could listen to this all day!

@jellyphish2112

11y

Wow this song takes me back...

@hicknan219

13y↑1

Love this. Great picking.This is by far the best version Ive heard. Miss ya Jerry!

@john9944

14y↑23

I have always loved The Dead. However, Jerry's work with David stands alone in acoustic music. They are azz-kickers. Dave can really play.

@annabickel2

15y

just great.

@anuradha40

14y↑2

Uh, ohh - love this rendition also. Yeah, I be an ol Dead Head. Miss their concerts and Marin County.

@Combinia

11y

thanx! gonna look him up right away, cus i love that sound!

@ShamsiaSunshine1

13y

LOVE YOU JERRY!!!!! Blessing's,Eternal Peace,LOVE,Light...Oneness....:)

@sallykgriffiths

11y

Jerry or David? Cuz, David Grisman is still here to be appreciated, seen and enjoyed!

@joshboards08

12y

The Avett Brothers covered this tune last night in OKC. It was AWESOME!

@Lumbo1976

Masterful...can't get enough

@KennethWilliamElkington

14y

I guess I could listen to this little ditty, one o' my favorites to pick (banjo)... FOREVER. Grisman & Garcia... Da Best! Keep on Rockin'... so sweet... so tight!

@KMAwithCapitalA

15y

I have this cd & it is really good! Thanks JG & DG.

@sweetpea3498

Ohh I sang this for choir last year

@landscapingspecialist

God bless you for uploading this track 🙏🏻

@AJtheRastaman

beautiful song. awesome album.

@thpeter

16y

Man, this is fantastic stuff! Thanks for putting this song up. Gonna have to buy this CD. Two hear these two masters together is such a treat!

@lawrencebudzinski8693

AMAZING!!!!!!!

@BMocean

11y

What Beautiful artwork this has!

@mossjacobs4643

Thanks Fairport Convention ..

@KMAwithCapitalA

15y

I have this cd & it rocks!!

@zaaritha

14y

Beautiful version!

@tdpack2003

12y

Happy Bday Jerry...I love you and miss you! This stuff with Grisman is the fucking best!

@carolgrant5028

10y

I remember singing this song in one of my concerts.....for school

@kensmith158

Love it!!

@rockachoka

15y

if i cant have the one i love i dont wat none at all....special song in my heart.

@squibblejack

12y

awesome upload

@gothictikidragon

13y

Ahhh Jerry, how I miss you!

@harryf200

14y

Loved this. I used to do this song years ago but I learnt a slightly different version of the lyrics.

@thatguy-su4wz

4y↑1

I’m barely older than this song

@arthurkennedy1686

11y

Great song never gets old

@michaeljgolda5956

thanks for sharing :-) "sew that pretty girl to my side, and down the road I'd go"

@dvrh73

14y

theres a shady grove in PA too.

@briantravelman

Oh wow! I had no idea Mudcrutch's "Shady Grove" was a cover

@zanecuneo

14y

beards of a feather, these two.

@Rumpleprince

10y

Love this song

@LAKESUMMER1

16y

We miss Jerry , good one ...

@PlowJohnDeere

12y

Oh, miss the Jerry days

@45thss

11y

Love. SO MUCH!

@mistylentz3442

8y↑7

I sing this in my class

@KMAwithCapitalA

14y

Shady Grove, TN in Warren County.

@potrezeb1

13y

really shuffles along ,,great

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