When I hear this version, I am in a canoe in a river in the East Part of USA, ca 1770, paddling to meet my sweet Indian princess.
– Anon
Even a Dylan album Rolling Stone labelled as his worst has some good stuff on it, including today’s featured track Shenandoah. Listening to it always reminded me of that 1965 Jimmy Stewart Civil War movie by the same name because the instrumental version of “Oh Shenandoah” featured prominently on the film’s soundtrack. It is a traditional folk song, sung in the Americas, of uncertain origin, dating to the early 19th century. It appears to have originated with American and Canadian voyageurs or fur traders travelling down the Missouri River in canoes. Some lyrics of this song as heard here tell the story of a trader who fell in love with the daughter of the Oneida Iroquois chief Shenandoah (1710–1816) who lived in the central New York state town of Oneida Castle.
[Verse 1]
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Look away, you rolling river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you
Look away. We’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 2]
Now the Missouri is a mighty river
Look away, you rolling river
Indians camp along her border
Look away. We’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 3]
Well a white man loved an Indian maiden
Look away, you rolling river
With notions his canoe was laden
Look away, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 4]
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Look away, you rolling river
It was for her I’d cross the water
Look away, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 5]
For seven long years I courted Sally
Look away, you rolling river
Seven more years I longed to have her
Look away, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri
[Verse 6]
Well, it’s fare-thee-well, my dear
I’m bound to leave you
Look away you rolling river
Shenandoah, I will not deceive you
Look away, we’re bound away
Across the wide Missouri
This is a guilty pleasure Dylan track that I like hearing from time to time. Down in the Groove his twenty – fifth studio album was a highly collaborative effort, more than normal, (including the appearance of the Grateful Dead) and the songs that made the final cut come from half a dozen different recording sessions spread out over six years. After the album’s release, Dylan went live incorporating an endless variety of traditional cover songs; a marked departure from previous shows. It would be a prelude of where he ventured in the early 1990’s on the Good as I Been to You and World Gone Wrong albums.
References:
1. Oh Shenandoah – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Man, Matt, you’re on a Dylan spree lately! 🙂
You may be surprised (or not!) I like Dylan’s rendition of this song. One thing that oftentimes helps get my attention are great gospel (backing) vocals! These amazing warm voices are a great contrast to the maestro’s rough vocals.
Good Sunday afternoon to you Sir,
I have got the US Open on in the background, which I believe is in your neck of the woods?
The ‘Dylan spree’ you mention is happenstance because the title listing of the songs are in alphabetical order in my ‘Music Library Project’. Also his music features so prominently, well exceeding any other artist. Given that, it’s no surprise that ‘Spree’s’ of this kind are not uncommon.
I like this version as well and to reiterate your point about the backing vocals – they do elevate it and contrast quite nicely with Dylan’s vocals.
Cheers.
We have talked about this album…I like it. It’s been a while since I heard this one but I do like it. It wasn’t his best album but it wasn’t as bad as some critics say.
We have indeed spoken about the album in other posts. I also like some music from it and its predecessor ‘Knocked Out Loaded’ which was also scorned by all and sundry.
Most of this 80s were except Infidels…I think
Yeh, although ‘Oh Mercy’ was his comeback record according to critics. He left ‘Series of Dreams’ off it much to Daniel Lanois’ dismay and your’s truly. .
He has that luxary because it doesn’t take a fortune to make an album by him…because one to three takes is it…so he can be flexable.