They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck's manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, "Greenfields," released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, "The Green Leaves of Summer," from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, "Hootenanny Saturday Night," in 1963.
The British Invasion and the ascendance of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four's early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.
The band attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But the band was unable to release it because of licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.
Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 47 years in the business, the group is still active today (2004).
SHENANDOAH
The Brothers Four Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far away, you rollin' river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away. I'm bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri.
For seven years I courted Sally
Far away, you rollin' river
Away. I'm bound away
'Cross the wide Missouri.
Oh Shenandoah, I bound to leave you
Far away, you rollin' river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
Away, away
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you...
The first verse of The Brothers Four's Shenandoah, The Wide Missouri speaks of a longing to hear the Shenandoah river, which is located in Virginia, and far away from where the singer is situated. From the lyrics, it can be interpreted that the singer is about to leave the area, and "cross the wide Missouri," which represents a journey to a different location altogether. The second verse tells the story of seven years of courtship, which was followed by seven more years of unrequited love for Sally. Despite the singer's love for Sally, they are still determined to leave and start anew.
The song is a traditional American folk song that dates back to the early 19th century. The origins of the song are unclear, but it is believed to have originated from either Native American tribes or French-Canadian fur traders. The song's popularity rose in the early 20th century, and it has since been covered by numerous artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
I deeply desire to listen to you, Shenandoah
Far away, you rollin' river
You, the river, are far away and constantly flowing
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Once again, I express my strong desire to listen to you, Shenandoah
Away. I'm bound away
I am leaving this place and moving somewhere else
'Cross the wide Missouri.
I am crossing the wide Missouri River
For seven years I courted Sally
I pursued Sally for seven long years in a romantic courtship
Far away, you rollin' river
While I was courting Sally, you, the river, continued to flow far away
For seven more I longed to love her
I also wanted to love Sally for seven more years after courting her
Away. I'm bound away
But now, I am leaving her and moving away
'Cross the wide Missouri.
My journey takes me across the wide Missouri River
Oh Shenandoah, I bound to leave you
I must bid farewell to you, Shenandoah
Far away, you rollin' river
Once again, I acknowledge that you, the river keep flowing far away
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
In spite of leaving you, I still desire to see you, Shenandoah
Away, away
Even though it pains me that I must leave, I am departing
Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you...
My longing to listen to you, Shenandoah, still remains
Lyrics © SHENANZHU LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cathie Novak
Their harmony is wonderful. My favorite version of this song.
jennifur sun
mine too always makes me teary eyed it was one of my late daddys favorite songs
Dolores 2850
Love this song sung by the Brothers Four. Just beautiful.
sue celaschi
I first heard this song after many years when m y grandson high school chorus sang it for their spring concert..It was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. I still react the same way. He promised me he would sing it for me again.
A’shauni Stokes
I love song and the piano version. I sang for my winter concert at school. This song is so beautiful.
강만수
I knew this song 45 years ago and hear this again in my sixties. I'm happy and thankful to Brothers Four.
Alastair Topham
Wonderful rendition of this evocative moving song
Mariano Folio
Pour un passionné de western comme moi,je trouve ça magnifique!
Bravo!
今泉武久
Bridgewater, the town in the bottom of Shenandoah Valley、I never forget the life there for three years from 1961 to 64. At Bridgewater College I lived and studied with the faculty and school mates and town people-all of them were wonderful people. The Shenandoah is fromFront Royal to Danville, Va. I shall never forget the place and the kindnesses of the people.
Douglas Dotta
Eu amo esta versão, linda!