Shenandoah (trad.)

This puzzling song is a traditional American song that has been sung over at least 200 years in a number of variants. Puzzling because it is a sea shantey but talks about the Missouri River & "Shenandoah". Many believe it originated with Missouri River flatboatmen in the early 19th century. By the middle of the 19th century it had been picked up by sailors & become a sea shantey.

The lyrics in Rise Up Singing are those most commonly sung today. These lyrics originating before 1860 may 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. (Shenandoah was a co-founder of the Oneida Academy which became Hamilton Clinton, New York, & he is buried on the campus grounds.)

In 1910 W.B. Whall ("Master Mariner") published a song collection in Glasgow, Scotland, entitled Ships, Sea Songs & Shanties. This version dates from at least 1860. These tlyrics that are quite different (see under "Alternate Lyrics" below) that may not land too well in the light of growing awareness of the relationship between Whites & Indigenous peoples. Arlo Guthrie recorded this version on his 1992 "Son of the Wind" album of Western songs. Roger McGuinn also recorded this version on his 2004 "Limited Edition" album.