1) American choral and orchestral conductor, 1916-1999.
Robert Shaw (April 30, 1916 – January 25, 1999) was an American conductor most famous for his work with his namesake Chorale, with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Shaw received 14 Grammy awards, four ASCAP awards for service to contemporary music, the first Guggenheim Fellowship ever awarded to a conductor, the Alice M. Ditson Conductor's Award for Service to American Music; the George Peabody Medal for outstanding contributions to music in America, the Gold Baton Award of the American Symphony Orchestra League for "distinguished service to music and the arts," the American National Medal of Arts, France's Officier des Arts et des Lettres, England's Gramophone Award, and was a 1991 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors.
2) American blues pianist based in Texas, 1908-1985.
Robert Shaw (August 9, 1908 – May 18, 1985) was an American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, best known for his 1963 album, The Ma Grinder.
shenandoah
Robert Shaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way, you rollin' river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Away w'ere bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Way, you rolling river
Away, we're bound to go
'cross the wide Missouri
'Tis seven long years since last I see thee
Way, you rollin' river
'Tis seven long years since last I see thee
Away w'ere bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Way, you rollin' river
Oh Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
Away w'ere bound to go
'Cross the wide Missouri.
The song "Shenandoah" is a beautiful and haunting American folk song that dates back to the 19th century. The song tells the story of a man who longs to see the Shenandoah river once again. He praises the beauty and the crashing sound of the river and declares his love for the daughter of Shenandoah. The lyrics capture the yearning for a place and a person that are far away and unattainable. The singer harkens back to a time seven years ago when he saw the river last time, and now he is preparing to leave again. Despite his love for the river and its daughter, he is bound to leave it all behind as he crosses the wide Missouri.
In essence, "Shenandoah" is a nostalgic ode to a place and a people that the singer cherishes deeply. In American folklore, the Shenandoah river has come to symbolize the spirit of the American West and the rugged independence that defined the pioneering spirit. The song is a tribute to the beauty and grandeur of the natural world, and its lyrics are a reminder of the power of nature to evoke strong emotions in all of us. Ultimately, the song reflects the universal human longing for a home and a sense of belonging, something that we all crave as we journey through life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
I have a deep yearning to listen to the sound of you, Shenandoah
Way, you rollin' river
As you flow, majestic river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you.
Once again I express my yearning to hear your voice, Shenandoah
Away w'ere bound to go
We are obliged to depart from here
'Cross the wide Missouri.
We shall traverse across the wide Missouri river
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Dear Shenandoah, I am in love with your daughter
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Dear Shenandoah, I hold your daughter close to my heart
Away, we're bound to go
We cannot stay here any longer
'cross the wide Missouri
We will travel across the vast Missouri river
'Tis seven long years since last I see thee
It has been seven years since I last saw you, dear Shenandoah
Way, you rollin' river
Glorious river as you flow and roll
'Tis seven long years since last I see thee
Seven long years have passed since I had last seen you, Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
It is with a heavy heart that I have to leave you, my dear Shenandoah
Way, you rollin' river
As you flow, great river
Oh Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
Shenandoah, be assured that I will not deceive you
Away w'ere bound to go
We have to leave this place behind and move on
'Cross the wide Missouri.
We will brave the mighty waters of the Missouri river
Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.