Shenandoah lyrics

Song Details

Music & Lyrics: Traditional American Folk Song - early 19th century... Shenandoah at Wikipedia

Brief: The song originated with American and Canadian fur traders travelling down the Missouri River in canoes. Over the years the lyrics have been adapted with some versions sung as a sea shanty by sailors in various parts of the world. In this version, the lyrics refer to a canoe-travelling trader who falls in love with the daughter of the Native American chief called Shenandoah.

References:
Varying Song Titles - Shenandoah, Oh Shenandoah, Across the Wide Missouri
Missouri - US state located in the midwest.
The Missouri River - the longest river in North America. Emanates from the Rocky Mountains of western Montana and flows south-easterly for 2,341 miles or 3,767 kilometres before entering the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri.

Category: Folk Song.

Although the song is not of Celtic Origins, it has been adopted by a number of Celtic performers with Liam Clancy's version, a well-known favourite amongst the Irish.

Covers: Celtic Woman, The Corries, Van Morrison & The Chieftains, John McDermott...

Liam Clancy (1935–2009) was a celebrated Irish folk singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a member of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, a group that became internationally renowned during the 1960s folk revival. Born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland, he was the youngest member of the band and was known for his powerful voice and emotive singing style.

Liam's career began with a deep love for storytelling and Irish folk music, which he explored while collecting traditional songs for his brother in the United States. He teamed up with Tommy Makem, forming a lifelong musical partnership. The Clancy Brothers became famous for their rousing performances, notably appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and even performing for President John F. Kennedy.

In addition to his music career, Liam was trained as an actor and appeared in stage productions and television. Later in life, he pursued a solo career, releasing several albums that further highlighted his talents. His influence on the Irish folk music scene was immense, inspiring artists like Bob Dylan.

Album: The Wheels of Life (Jan 15, 2008)