Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Shady Grove
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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Shady grove I say
Shady grove my little love
Bound for shady grove
Wish I was in shady grove
Sittin in a rockin chair
And if those blues would bother me
Had a banjo made of gold
Every string would shine
The only song that it would play
Wish that girl was mine
When I was in shady grove
Heard them pretty birds sing
The next time I go to shady grove
Take along a diamond ring
When you go to catch a fish
Fish with a hook and line
When you go to court a girl
Never look behind
When I was a little boy
All I wanted was a knife
Now I am a great big boy
I'm lookin for a wife
The lyrics to Roger McGuinn's song "Shady Grove" describe the singer's longing for the picturesque and peaceful place of Shady Grove. The "little love" that he addresses in the song seems to be a metaphorical representation of his desire to be in Shady Grove. He wishes to be in a rocking chair in Shady Grove, away from his troubles and the "blues". The singer plays a banjo with strings that shine like gold, and the only song that it would play is one about his longing for a girl to be his. When he has been in Shady Grove before, he has heard the pretty birds sing, and the next time he goes there, he plans to take along a diamond ring for his beloved.
The song provides advice on how to fish and how to court a girl. The singer advises one to fish with a hook and line, while when trying to court a girl, one should never look behind. The final stanza of the song describes the singer's growth from a little boy who wished for a knife to a grown man looking for a wife.
Line by Line Meaning
Shady grove my little love
Addressing the singer's lover who lives in Shady Grove
Shady grove I say
Reiterating the singer's desire to be in Shady Grove
Shady grove my little love
Expressing affection for the singer's lover in Shady Grove
Bound for shady grove
Heading towards Shady Grove
Wish I was in shady grove
Expressing the artist's longing to be in Shady Grove
Sittin in a rockin chair
Visualizing being in Shady Grove in a comfortable position
And if those blues would bother me
Referring to feelings of sadness, wishing to escape them
I'd rock away from there
Finding solace in the act of rocking
Had a banjo made of gold
Possessing a prized possession
Every string would shine
The instrument being of high quality and expertly maintained
The only song that it would play
It being exclusively used to play a song associated with the singer's love interest
Wish that girl was mine
Expressing love and longing for the girl from Shady Grove
When I was in shady grove
Recalling a pleasant past experience in Shady Grove
Heard them pretty birds sing
Noting an enjoyable experience involving the natural environment
The next time I go to shady grove
Planning to visit Shady Grove again
Take along a diamond ring
Planning to give a gift to the girl from Shady Grove
When you go to catch a fish
Sage advice on how to effectively fish
Fish with a hook and line
Using a standard fishing approach
When you go to court a girl
Sage advice on how to court a girl
Never look behind
Advice to stay focused on the pursuit and not to be deterred
When I was a little boy
A nostalgic reflection on childhood
All I wanted was a knife
A simple desire as a child
Now I am a great big boy
Commenting on how things have changed since childhood
I'm lookin for a wife
Desiring a life partner
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.