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Tag Archives: Minnesota Historical Society

Oh Shenandoah: Lyrics and a Connection

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in History, Songs

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

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

Oh Shenandoah, I long to hear you
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.

1)
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.
2)
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.
3) 
’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.
4) 
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.
 
© Micheline Walker
August 15th, 2012
WordPress 
 
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En roulant ma boule: a Folksong & a Voyageur Song

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Folksongs

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

French folksong, Minnesota Historical Society, music and words, Theodore C. Blegen, U. of Moncton Male Choir, voyageurs

Jongleur *

* from the Encyclopædia Britannica [i]
This song is almost identical to “C’est le vent frivolant.”  With folksongs, substituion is not uncommon.  One changes the melody, but keeps the same lyrics or words or keeps the melody and gives it new words.

According to Theodore C. Blegen, this is a rollicking “jongleur” song.  Jongleurs could be described as minstrels, but some also “juggled” balls and where therefore  particularly entertaining.

04 En roulant ma boule (click on the title to hear the song) [ii]
 
 
Chorus 
En roulant ma boule roulant,   Rolling my ball…
En roulant ma boule (2: repeat chorus)
 
1.  Derrière chez nous y-a-t’un étang (a pond), 
En roulant ma boule.
Trois beaux canards (ducks) s’en vont baignant (are bathing),
Rouli-roulant, ma boule roulant.
Chorus
 
2. Le fils du roi s’en va chassant,
En roulant ma boule.
Avec son grand fusil d’argent,
Rouli-roulant, ma boule roulant. 
Chorus
 
3. Visa le noir, tua le blanc,
En roulant ma boule.
O, fils du roi tu es méchant,
Rouli-roulant, ma boule roulant. 
Chorus
 
4. D’avoir tué mon canard blanc,
En roulant ma boule.
Par-dessous l’aile, il perd son sang,
Rouli-roulant, ma boule roulant. 
Chorus
 
5. Et toutes ses plumes s’en vont au vent,
Trois dames s’en vont les ramassant,
En roulant ma boule.
Rouli-roulant, ma boule roulant 
Chorus
 
6. C’est pour en faire un lit de camp,
En roulant ma boule.
Pour y coucher tous les passants,
Rouli-roulant, ma boule roulant. 
Chorus
 
1.  At the back of our house, there is a pond,
Three lovely ducks are bathing in it.
2. The king’s son is going hunting,
With his large silver gun.
3. Aims for the black duck, kills the white,
O you, the king’s song, you are bad.
4. You have killed my white duck,
Beneath his wing, he’s losing blood.
5. All of his feathers are blowing in the wind,
Three ladies go about picking them up.
6. It’s to make a feather bed.
For all those who are passing by. 
 

Jongleurs, minstrels

_________________________
[i] “jongleur.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/306035/jongleur>.
 
[ii] Theodore C. Blegen, Songs of the Voyageurs  (Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1998[1966].
Université de Moncton’s 30-voice Male Choir
 

  

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