Oh Shenandoah
Until the
nineteenth 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
men were loners who became friendly with, and sometimes married, Native
Americans.
Shenandoah is said to have
originated with French voyageurs traveling down the Missouri River. The lyrics
tell the story of a trader who fell in love with the daughter of an Oneida chief, Skenandoa. American sailors heading down the Mississippi River picked
up the song and made it a capstan shanty that they sang while hauling in the
anchor.
There is a beautiful 2 harp arrangement of "Oh Shenandoah" by Beth Kolle in The Harp Ensemble Book: Duets and Trios for Lever Harp
Lyrics
to Oh Shenandoah
O Shenandoah, I
long to hear you
Away, you rolling river
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away,
I'm bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri
Missouri, she's a
mighty river
Away, you rolling river
The Indians camp along her borders
Away,
I'm bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri
The white man loved
an Indian maiden
Away, you rolling river
With notions his canoe was laden Away,
I'm bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri
O Shenandoah, I
love your daughter
Away, you rolling river
For her I've crossed the rolling
water
Away, I'm bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri
Seven long years I
courted Sally
Away, you rolling river
Seven more I longed to have her
Away, I'm
bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri
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