Shenandoah
I am a big fan of folk music, but for some reason I had never heard this beautiful song - Shenandoah - until the other weekend - when I stumbled across it on YouTube.
For me it's one of those exceptional, haunting and memorable tunes that really touch my musical soul, such as it is, because I couldn't play a musical instrument of any kind - even to save my own life.
But I know what I like and really like Shenandoah - especially this crisp clear version by Arlo Guthrie, the son of the famous American folk singer Woody Guthrie.
Shenandoah by Arlo Guthrie
The Missouri, she's a mighty river
Away you rolling river
The red man's camp lies on her borders
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri
A white man loved an Indian maiden
Away you rolling river
With notions sweet his canoe was laden
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri
O Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away you rolling river
I'll take her 'cross the rolling water
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri
Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/arlo-guthrie-shenandoah-lyrics.html ]
The chief disdained the trader's dollars
Away you rolling river
My daughter never you shall follow
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri
At last there came a Yankee skipper
Away you rolling river
He winked his eye, and he tipped his flipper
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri
He sold the chief that fire-water
Away you rolling river
And 'cross the river he stole his daughter
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri
O Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Away you rolling river
Across the wide and rolling water
Away, we're bound away across the wide
Missouri