Shenandoah
Bob Dylan · Original Album Classics [2010]
Look away, you rollin' river
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
Now the Missouri is a mighty river
Look away, you rollin' river
Indians camp a long her border
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
Well, a white man loved an Indian maiden
Look away, you rollin' river
With notions his canoe was laden
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Look away, you rollin' river
It was for her I'd cross the water
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
For seven long years I courted Sally
Look away, you rollin' river
Seven more years I longed to have her
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
Well, it's fare-thee-well, my dear, I'm bound to leave you
Look away, you rollin' river
Shenandoah, I will not deceive you
Look away, we're bound away
Across the wide Missouri.
Shenandoah - Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan's rendition of Shenandoah stands as a testament to his enduring ability to reinterpret traditional folk material through a distinctly modern lens. While the melody and lyrics are rooted in American folk history, Dylan's vocal delivery and arrangement inject the track with a unique emotional depth that transcends its origins. Recorded for the Original Album Classics compilation, this version highlights his skill in blending acoustic storytelling with the broader narrative scope of his career. The song exemplifies how Dylan often drew upon the wellspring of traditional songs to explore themes of longing and the human condition, ensuring that familiar tunes continue to resonate with new generations of listeners.