Oh Shenandoah: Lyrics and a Connection

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in History, Songs

Tags

Canada, Master Mariner, Minnesota Historical Society, Missouri, Paul Robeson, Shenandoah, Thomas Moore, Wikipedia

Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you (Photo credit: Mr. Beattie)

The Melody

According to Wikipedia‘s entry on “Oh Shenandoah,” the song’s melody may be a voyageur melody.

Sea Songs and Shanties, Collected by W.B. Whall, Master Mariner (First edition in Nov 1910), states that the song probably originated from American or Canadian “voyageurs”, who were great singers. Thomas Moore drew inspiration from them in his Canadian Boat Song. The author further goes on and states that he heard it sung over fifty years prior to publishing the book, which place its origin at least a fair bit earlier than 1860. Besides sung at sea, this song figured in old public school collections. (info taken from page one in the sixth edition of the book)[i]

When I read this information, I remembered that Grace Lee Nute states, in The Voyageur,[ii] that the pièce or bale the voyageurs had to carry on their back during portage:

was made up to weigh ninety pounds, and two ears were left at the top by which the voyageur could lift it easily in the manner of a modern flour bag. Two of these pièces made an ordinary load for porraging, but emulation among the men in proof of unusual stregth or endurance caused many an engagé to carry three or four.

Grace Lee Nute then goes on to write the following:

A member of a famous Negro-Indian family of voyageurs, the Bongas, is said to have had such strength that he could carry five.

Therefore, the melody used in Oh Shenandoah could find its origin in the voyageur’s répertoire and we may know how it happened: Bongas.

The Lyrics

As for the lyrics to Oh Shenandoah, they differ from singer to singer. So, I’ve tried to write down the words used by Paul Robeson. There are words (2nd stanza), I could not make out, but you may.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away, I’m bound to go,

’cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah,

I took on the ocean,

Away you rolling river.

To sail across

The stormy ocean,

Away, I’m bound to go,

’cross the wide Missouri.

’tis seven long years,

Since last I see thee,

Away you rolling river.

’tis seven long years,

Since last I see thee,

Away, I’m bound to go,

’cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away, I’m bound to go,

’cross the wide Missouri.

________________________

[i] “Oh Shenandoah,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_Shenandoah

[ii] Grace Lee Nute, The Voyageur (Minnesota Historical Society, 1955[1931]), p. 38.

August 15th, 2012

WordPress

Paul Robeson sings “Oh Shenandoah”

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Canada, History

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Abraham Lincoln, American Civil War, Le Devoir, Le Monde, Le Monde diplomatique, National Post, New York Times, United States

Battle of Gettysburg,* Currier and Ives**

* (Union counter-attack at The Angle, third day, Gettysburg 1863)

** Currier and Ives

Oh Shenandoah (this Widipedia entry includes the lyrics to the song)
The provenance (origin) of this song is “unclear.” (Wikipedia) “The lyrics may tell the story of a roving trader in love with the daughter of an Indian chief.” The lover expresses a longing to cross the Missouri River. But it could also tell the nostalgia of a Confederate cadet who wishes to go home.

The American Civil War: the Backdrop

The American Civil War (1861–1865) opposed “eleven southern slave states” that declared their secession from the 25 United States, the Union. Hostilities began on April 12, 1861. If you click on the word Union, you will see which states seceded. The War ended May 9, 1865. It was fought during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln who was assassinated on April 15, 1865, aged 56 (born: February 12, 1809). Lincoln abolished slavery and was a great Republican. Arguably he may also have been the greatest among American Presidents.

The Legacy

It seems that Americans are still haunted by the defeat of the Confederates, just as many French Canadians have not fully recovered from the Rebellion of 1836-1837. If my memory serves me well, about a dozen Patriotes were hanged and 52, exiled to what is now Australia. The Amnesty Act (1848) allowed exiled Patriotes to return to their homes, but the dead could not be revived and being exiled had harmed patriotes. As for the Confederates, they owned human beings.

The Fate of the Confederate States

Most of the southern states, the Confederate states, are now Republican states, but Republicans are different from President Lincoln. Needless to say, current Republicans do not approve of slavery. On the contrary, they oppose it vigorously. They know that slavery can lead to abuse. For instance, what would prevent the owner of a female slave from feeling free to engage in sexual intercourse with her? She belongs to him. And what would prevent the owner of slaves from making them work beyond exhaustion?

Slavery started a very long time ago and it did not start in the US. But it is an infamy and, to my knowledge, all Americans agree it is just that: an infamy.

Here are the words to one stanza of Oh Shenandoah:

Oh Shenandoah

I long to hear you,

Away you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,

I long to hear you,

Away, I’m bound to go,

‘cross the wide Missouri.

Comments

In today’s National Post, I read that if indépendantistes are elected into office, “[t]he crucifix would be spared in the PQ’s proposed ban on ‘conspicuous religious signs’ for government employees, which tells you everything you need to know about the party’s supposed neutrality toward religions.” (Graeme Hamilton)