Shenandoah Lyrics

About this shanty

"Shenandoah" is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful songs in the entire shanty repertoire — a slow, rolling windlass shanty whose melody carries an aching sense of longing and distance. Stan Hugill believed it began as an American fur-trading song about the Missouri River and was absorbed into the sailor's repertoire. English seamen usually pronounced the name "Shannandore." Unlike most shanties, it was also sung as a forebitter — a leisure song — because its melody was simply too good to abandon when the anchor was up.

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Lyrics

Windlass / capstan shanty

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, you rolling river!
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Away, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter,
Away, you rolling river!
I'll take her 'cross the rolling water,
Away, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I'm bound to leave you,
Away, you rolling river!
Oh, Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
Away, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide Missouri.

'Tis seven years since last I've seen you,
Away, you rolling river!
'Tis seven years since last I've seen you,
Away, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, you rolling river!
And hear your rolling river's music,
Away, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide Missouri.

Related shanties

Rio Grande — capstan shanty
South Australia — capstan shanty
Rolling Down to Old Maui — forecastle song
Leave Her, Johnny — ceremonial shanty