Shenandoah

Trad

Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
Oh away ye rollin’ river
Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you
Far away we’re bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missouri

Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Oh away ye rollin’ river
I’ll take her across the rollin’ water
Far away we’re bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missouri

Oh Shenandoah, I love your Nancy
Oh away ye rollin’ river.
Oh Shenandoah, she took my fancy
Far away we’re bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missouri

We’re bound away for Caledonia
Oh away ye rollin’ river
It’s far away from West Virginia
Far away we’re bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missouri

Oh Shenandoah, now I must leave you
Oh away ye rollin’ river
Oh Shenandoah, I’ll not deceive you
Far away we’re bound to go
‘Cross the wide Missouri

This is a capstan shanty and one of the most famous of all shanties, possibly originating during the American Civil War. Shenandoah was a celebrated native American chief after whom a town and river in northwest Virginia is named.