SHENANDOAH
The Chieftains / Van Morrison Lyrics
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Look away, you rollin' river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear
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.
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.
The song "Shenandoah" is a classic American folk song that recounts the tale of a man who longs to see the Shenandoah River. In the first verse, the singer expresses his yearning to hear the river, referring to it as a personification of sorts. He also mentions the Missouri River, which he and his companions are traveling across.
The second verse makes reference to the Native Americans who have lived along the Missouri River over the centuries. The third verse tells the story of a white man who falls in love with an Indian maiden. He wants to cross the river to be with her, but her father will not allow it. The fourth verse reveals that the singer himself is in love with the daughter of Shenandoah, and he, too, desires to cross the river.
The final two verses focus on the singer's love story. He has courted Sally for seven years and still longs to have her for seven more. As the song draws to a close, the singer bids farewell to his beloved Shenandoah, promising not to deceive her.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
I deeply desire to listen to the sweet sound of Shenandoah river
Look away, you rollin' river
Turn your gaze away from the rolling river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear
Again, I deeply yearn to listen to the beautiful Shenandoah river
Look away, we're bound away
Direct your attention elsewhere as we're moving forward
Across the wide Missouri.
We're traveling across the vastness of the Missouri River
Now the Missouri is a mighty river
The Missouri river is a powerful and significant stream
Indians camp a long her border
Native Americans have settled along the riverbanks
Well, a white man loved an Indian maiden
A Caucasian man fell in love with a Native American woman
With notions his canoe was laden
He had many ideas and intentions that he wanted to express to her
Shenandoah, I love your daughter
I have deep feelings for your daughter, Shenandoah
It was for her I'd cross the water
I am willing to cross the river for her sake
For seven long years I courted Sally
I pursued and wooed Sally for seven years
Seven more years I longed to have her
I continued to yearn for her for another seven years
Well, it's fare-thee-well, my dear, I'm bound to leave you
Goodbye, my love, I am obligated to depart from your presence
Shenandoah, I will not deceive you
I promise not to betray you, Shenandoah
Look away, we're bound away
A repeated line, indicating we are continuing on our journey without looking back
Across the wide Missouri.
Another repetition of the idea of traveling across the Missouri River
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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