For the 62nd Grammy Award in 2020, her 2019 album "Walk Through Fire" generated three Grammy Award nominations; Best Americana Album for the album and the track "Faraway Look" was nominated for Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots Performance, and Yola herself was nominated for Best New Artist.
Shady Grove
Yola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A memory long ago
A tale too old to know the ending
I left a fortune there
A wealth beyond compare
A love so true and rare, I spent it
It takes my breath away
A little shady grove
A memory long ago
A tale too old to know the ending
I gave it all away, all away
It takes my breath away
A little shady grove
A memory long ago
A tale too old to know the ending
Yola's song "Shady Grove" speaks of a shady grove, which is a symbol of a memory from the past that still lingers. The singer reminisces about a time long ago, perhaps a childhood memory, and recounts how they left behind a fortune - which may refer to something material or non-material - and a love so rare and true that it took their breath away. While the fortune and love were precious to the singer, they eventually gave it all away. It is unclear why the singer gave away something so valuable, which adds to the mystery of the memory. The song suggests that some memories we hold on to from the past are incomplete - "a tale too old to know the ending" - yet they continue to influence our present.
The song's imagery suggests that the memory in the shady grove represents something that the singer may have lost or that they regret giving up. The longing for the past can often give us strength to face the present and future, and this is reflected in the poignant lyrics of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
A little shady grove
Referring to a place of refuge or escape, where the singer experienced a sheltered and secluded spot
A memory long ago
An event that took place in the distant past, but still holds significant emotional weight for the singer
A tale too old to know the ending
The ending of the story is unclear, unknown, or lost with the passage of time
I left a fortune there
The artist abandoned something of incredible value or importance at the shady grove
A wealth beyond compare
Describing the magnitude of what was left behind as priceless, inestimable, or incomparable to anything else
A love so true and rare, I spent it
The singer gave it their all, pouring all their love and energy into the person or thing they left behind at the shady grove
I gave it all away, all away
The singer willingly relinquished everything they had, without expectation of receiving anything in return
It takes my breath away
The thought of what was lost or given away is overwhelming, causing the artist to feel intense emotions
Writer(s): Bobby Wood, Yolanda Quartey, Daniel Quine Auerbach
Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bikinimartini1861
This woman is the definition of CRIMINALLY underrated
@wakeuppeople5815
And that makes me sooo sad and l know why
@Koshirozation
lovely, tender and warm, this album is like a hug on a lonely summer rainy day <3
@MartinHCollection
I didn´t skip one song on this album... it didn´t happen in years :)) Masterpiece!!!
@stevemacbeath
Big hair! Big personality. Big talent. Big hugs for Yolanda 🤗🤗🤗🥰🥰🥰
@MargieMersky
Beautiful
@kellymccain3403
I still remember the first time i heard this beautiful song on NPR. At the end of the segment the reporter played they last verse of the song before sending it back to the morning host Steve Inskeep. The song sounded so good that Steve was at a lost for words, the only thing he could manage to say was "lovely". He wanted to hear more ...... so did i.
@stephenandrews8419
I discovered this song around a year ago, but this is the very first time that I've seen the official video. I loved it a year ago & now I love it even more. I've seen Yola perform live with Jools Holland & she deserves to be an absolute superstar 😀💙
@MrJulesFOD
What an amazing and expressive voice.
@taryndorsey5581
Yes! Every musicians life that gets ready before a show. Love it. The whole album is a treasure.