Shenandoah
Roger Whittaker Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to se you,
Away, you rolling river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to se you
Away, I'm bound away, cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away, you rolling river
Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter

Away, I'm bound away, cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you,
Away, you rolling river




Oh, Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Away, I'm bound away, cross the wide Missouri.

Overall Meaning

The song Shenandoah is a classic American folk song that has been sung by many artists over the years. It describes the yearning of a man for a woman named Shenandoah, who is believed to be the daughter of the river itself. The river is described as a “rolling river”, and it is evident that the man is deeply in love with the woman. He longs to see her and express his love for her, but he is bound to leave her and cross the wide Missouri.


The lyrics are quite simple, but the emotion behind them is deep and profound. The river symbolizes the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The man knows that he must leave Shenandoah and cross the wide Missouri, but his love for her will remain with him forever. He expresses his love for her by saying “Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter” which means that he loves not only the woman but also the river that she represents.


Overall, the song Shenandoah is a beautiful expression of love and longing that has had a lasting impact on American music. It is a testament to the power of simple lyrics and heartfelt emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Expressing a deep longing or desire to visit Shenandoah and witness its beauty.


Away, you rolling river
Referring to the Shenandoah river as it flows smoothly and continuously.


Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you
Repeating the previous line to intensify the deep yearning to visit Shenandoah.


Away, I'm bound away, cross the wide Missouri.
Indicating that the artist is obliged to cross the Missouri river to get to where they want to go.


Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Revealing the artist has some form of attachment to Shenandoah's offspring, the river.


Away, you rolling river
Describing the swift flow of the river once more.


Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Repeating the prior line to heighten the affection the singer has for the river.


Away, I'm bound away, cross the wide Missouri.
Emphasizing that the artist is still required to cross the Missouri in order to reach their destination.


Oh, Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you,
Expressing a sense of sadness that the artist has to depart from Shenandoah.


Away, you rolling river
Describing the continuous flow of the river as the artist prepares to depart.


Oh, Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you
Reiterating the singer's inner turmoil of having to leave Shenandoah.


Away, I'm bound away, cross the wide Missouri.
Concluding that the artist must make their way across the Missouri river, symbolizing their departure from Shenandoah.




Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

JasonOfStarCommand

When I was a kid my father used to play this song in the car. We would all sing along. I miss him and those times so much.

Roland Mendes

A beautyfull Voice ,
I love all his Songs and i here it every day .

Brian Geraghty

Roger you are fantastic. Your voice is so rich and unique.

Blackbelt Jones

Awesome!

Stephen Allen

Absolutely butifull

sylo diablo

gotta love!

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