He continues to write and record new material and performs live frequently throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.
Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. On 5 July 2011, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa was conferred on Thompson by the University of Aberdeen, in a ceremony at the University's Elphinstone Hall.
SHENANDOAH
Richard Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look away, you rollin' river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Look away. We're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Now the Missouri is a mighty river
Look away, you rollin' river.
Look away. We're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Well a white man loved an Indian maiden
Look away, you rollin' river
With notions his canoe was laden
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Look away, you rollin' river
It was for her I'd cross the water.
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
For seven long years I courted Sally
Look away, you rollin' river
Seven more years I longed to have her
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Well, it's fare-thee-well, my dear,
I'm bound to leave you
Look away you rollin' river
Shenandoah, I will not deceive you
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri
Richard Thompson's version of the traditional American folk song, "Shenandoah," tells a story of a man's deep love for the river and the woman he adores. The lyrics are filled with longing and travel imagery that paints a picture of the vast American landscape. Shenandoah refers to the river that runs through the states of Virginia and West Virginia, while the Missouri River is a tributary that flows into the Mississippi River.
The opening line sets the tone for the entire song, with the man expressing his longing to hear the river. As the song progresses, it is revealed that the man is in love with a woman whose father is from the Shenandoah region. He declares his love for her and his desire to cross the river and be with her. The somber tone of the song is underscored by the repeated phrase "Look away" which serves as a refrain throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
The singer yearns to hear the beautiful sound of the Shenandoah river.
Look away, you rollin' river
The singer acknowledges the powerful flow of the Shenandoah river as it continues to move forward.
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
The singer repeats their strong desire to hear the Shenandoah river, emphasizing its importance to them.
Look away. We're bound away
Despite their love for the Shenandoah, the artist and their company must move on and leave it behind as they journey across the Missouri river.
Across the wide Missouri
The artist and their company are travelling across the vast expanse of the Missouri river and its surrounding lands.
Now the Missouri is a mighty river
The singer describes the Missouri in its own right as a powerful and significant water body.
Indians camp along her border
The singer recognizes the native peoples who live along the border of the Missouri river and its surrounding areas.
Well a white man loved an Indian maiden
The artist tells a story of a white man who fell in love with a native woman, highlighting the complex relationships between different groups of people in this region.
With notions his canoe was laden
The artist describes the white man's boat filled with his own perceptions and ideas about the land and its people.
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
The artist declares their love for the daughter of the Shenandoah river.
It was for her I'd cross the water
The singer is willing to go to great lengths just to be near the daughter of the Shenandoah river.
For seven long years I courted Sally
The artist tells the story of their long journey to win the heart of the woman they love.
Seven more years I longed to have her
The singer's love for Sally continued to grow for many more years before they were able to have her as their own.
Well, it's fare-thee-well, my dear
The singer must say goodbye to their loved one and move on with their journey.
I'm bound to leave you
The singer is obligated to leave their loved one behind and continue their travels.
Shenandoah, I will not deceive you
The artist promises to always remember and cherish the Shenandoah river, despite having to leave it behind.
Look away, we're bound away
The artist and their company must continue on their journey, saying farewell to the Shenandoah river and its significance in their lives.
Across the wide Missouri
The singer and their company continue their journey across the massive Missouri river and its surrounding lands.
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ken Soehn
on Love in a Faithless Country
At a show at the Culch (The Vancouver East Cultural Centre) decades ago, Thompson said the song was inspired by two British serial killers, who seemed to be inspiring each other through the newspapers. Now you know why it sounds so spooky.
Mark Apelman
on Devonside
Not sure what this song means, but I love the feeling of it.