WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Shenandoah: The Great Hymn of the American Land
byVanderleunonJuly 30, 2021
Until the 19th century only adventurers who sought their fortunes as trappers and traders of beaver fur ventured as far west as the Missouri River. Most of these Canadian and American “voyageurs” in the fur trade era were loners who became friendly with, and sometimes married, Native Americans. Some lyrics of this song heard by and before 1860 tell the story of a trader who fell in love with the daughter of the Oneida Iroquois pine tree chief Shenandoah (1710–1816), who lived in the central New York state town of Oneida Castle. He was a co-founder of the Oneida Academy, which became Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and is buried on the campus grounds.
The canoe-going fur-trading voyageurs were great singers, and songs were an important part of their culture. Also in the early 19th century, flatboatmen who plied the Missouri River were known for their shanties, including “Oh Shenandoah”. Sailors heading down the Mississippi River picked up the song and made it a capstan shanty that they sang while hauling in the anchor. This boatmen’s song found its way down the Mississippi River to American clipper ships, and thus around the world. — La Wik
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
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
Indians camp a long her border
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.
In a couple hours I’ll be headed down to Seneca Lake, also with rich history, to spend the next four days of our great country’s Independence Day weekend fishing, drinking and B.S.’s, not necessarily in that order, with friends and family. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_Lake_(New_York)
CCW thanks for posting that, my favorite version of my favorite song. It honestly brings me to tears. Sissel is so perfect. I love her smile.
For those who care, she sang the music in Titanic, other than “that song”.
FoodogJuly 1, 2017, 11:04 PM
Best version ever. Of the few songs I could sing, this was most requested by my kids, as lullabies. And Sweet Baby James.
Thanks to Gerard, I got the words to Arlo’s version memorized, so I can sing this on the bike or in the car. One of my all-time favorites.
And CCW- a zillion thanks for that! I just spent three minutes with my jaw dropped.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Beautiful and unknown story to me. Sends me back in better days.
Sam L.July 31, 2021, 6:49 AM
I was born in Missouri, and later went to California (NOT to see “the elephant”, though). Arlo sang it goooooood. Thanks! Great way to start the morning.
andreJuly 31, 2021, 2:15 PM
Makes you long for another America
Mike-SMOJuly 31, 2021, 2:38 PM
Disappointed to read that “Shenandoah” might have originally referred to an actual person. I had long assumed that it was an indirect reference to the “civilized” Shenandoah River and Valley in eastern Virginia in contrast to the Missouri River which was, for a time, the western limit of the much wilder, “Illinois Country” of the Virginia colony. Arlo’s interpretation fit that concept better, since it wasn’t overly sweet, like the dress-up theater version.
MarkJuly 31, 2021, 4:01 PM
Took me a second to realize it was Paddy Moloney on the penny whistle. Great rendition. Thank you Gerard.
“Never was piping so sad,
And never was piping so gay.”
BillAugust 3, 2021, 10:29 AM
I imagine there are other lyrics. I seem to remember one about “He gave that chief some fire water.”
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
I live in Irondequoit, NY, which, as you can probably tell by the name, has rich history related to American Indians.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irondequoit,_New_York
In a couple hours I’ll be headed down to Seneca Lake, also with rich history, to spend the next four days of our great country’s Independence Day weekend fishing, drinking and B.S.’s, not necessarily in that order, with friends and family.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_Lake_(New_York)
Sissel Kyrkjebø – Shenandoah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1EG_4IBzbA
CCW thanks for posting that, my favorite version of my favorite song. It honestly brings me to tears. Sissel is so perfect. I love her smile.
For those who care, she sang the music in Titanic, other than “that song”.
Best version ever. Of the few songs I could sing, this was most requested by my kids, as lullabies. And Sweet Baby James.
Thanks to Gerard, I got the words to Arlo’s version memorized, so I can sing this on the bike or in the car. One of my all-time favorites.
And CCW- a zillion thanks for that! I just spent three minutes with my jaw dropped.
Absolutely breathtaking.
JWM
@CCW, nice set of pipes!
Quite simply… beautiful !!!
Thanks. Now the wanderlust has set in.
know the melody but not the lyrics, nor the history.
happily enlightened.
Thank you, Gerard, for Sissel’s.
Beautiful and unknown story to me. Sends me back in better days.
I was born in Missouri, and later went to California (NOT to see “the elephant”, though). Arlo sang it goooooood. Thanks! Great way to start the morning.
Makes you long for another America
Disappointed to read that “Shenandoah” might have originally referred to an actual person. I had long assumed that it was an indirect reference to the “civilized” Shenandoah River and Valley in eastern Virginia in contrast to the Missouri River which was, for a time, the western limit of the much wilder, “Illinois Country” of the Virginia colony. Arlo’s interpretation fit that concept better, since it wasn’t overly sweet, like the dress-up theater version.
Took me a second to realize it was Paddy Moloney on the penny whistle. Great rendition. Thank you Gerard.
“Never was piping so sad,
And never was piping so gay.”
I imagine there are other lyrics. I seem to remember one about “He gave that chief some fire water.”