Shady Grove
The Watson Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cheeks as red a a blooming rose
She's the darling of my heart
Sweetest girl in towm
(chorus)
(break)
I wish I had a big fine horse
And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
(chorus)
(break)
Went to see my Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stockin's in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
(chorus)
(break)
When I was a little boy
I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove
To say she'll be my wife
(chorus)
(break)
A kiss form pretty little Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
And ther ain't no girl in this old world
That's's prettier than mine
(chorus)
The Watson Family's song Shady Grove is a classic love song with the chorus expressing the singer's intention to leave his loved one. The singer describes his love's charming features including her rosy cheeks and pretty brown eyes. He declares her to be the darling of his heart and the sweetest girl in town. Despite his love for Shady Grove, the singer wishes he had a big fine horse and corn to feed him so that he could leave and come back to her.
In the second verse, the singer narrates a scene where he goes to see Shady Grove and finds her standing in the doorway. She holds her shoes and stockings in her hand, and her little bare feet are on the floor. This verse suggests a lack of formality in their relationship, and the bare feet symbolize the intimacy that they share. In the third verse, the singer reminisces about his childhood desire for a Barlow knife, and he contrasts it with his current wish to have Shady Grove as his wife. The final verse affirms his love for Shady Grove, declaring her to be the prettiest girl in the world, and compares kissing her to the sweetness of brandy wine.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet ode to a loved one. The singer's desire to leave is counteracted by his love for Shady Grove, and it's unclear if he will actually go through with his plan to leave or stay with her. The song's repetition of the chorus emphasizes this ambiguity, creating an emotional tension between the singer's desire and his love.
Line by Line Meaning
Shady Grove, my little love
Addressing the cherished one
Shady Grove I say
Repeating addressing and emphasizing the name
Shady Grove, my little love
Addressing the cherished one again
I'm bound to go away
Expressing a sad and inevitable departure
Cheeks as red a a blooming rose
Describing the physical appearance in a poetic way
And eyes are the prettiest brown
Praising the beauty of the beloved's eyes
She's the darling of my heart
Expressing deep affection and love
Sweetest girl in towm
Declaring the beloved's unique and superlative qualities
I wish I had a big fine horse
Expressing a desire for material possessions
And corn to feed him on
Describing the practical need for food
And Shady Grove to stay at home
Expressing the desire for the beloved's company
And feed him while I'm gone
Requesting assistance for the horse while the artist is away
Went to see my Shady Grove
Narrating a visit to the beloved's home
She was standing in the door
Describing the scene of the encounter
Her shoes and stockin's in her hand
Detailing the attire of the beloved
And her little bare feet on the floor
Providing a poetic image of the beloved's physical appearance
When I was a little boy
Starting a personal story
I wanted a Barlow knife
Expressing a past desire for a specific object
And now I want little Shady Grove
Expressing a current desire for the beloved
To say she'll be my wife
Expressing the ultimate desire for commitment
A kiss form pretty little Shady Grove
Describing a romantic gesture
Is sweet as brandy wine
Comparing the kiss to a sweet, alcoholic beverage
And ther ain't no girl in this old world
Declaring the beloved's uniqueness
That's's prettier than mine
Asserting ownership and admiration for the beloved's beauty
Shady Grove, my little love
Addressing the cherished one again
Shady Grove I say
Repeating addressing and emphasizing the name
Shady Grove, my little love
Addressing the cherished one again
I'm bound to go away
Repeating the sad and inevitable departure
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUDDY CANNON, KENNETH CHESNEY, TIMOTHY HENSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind