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What Virginia State Park is also a Sea-Chanty?
Posted August 17, 2011
Oh Shenandoah,
I long to see you,
And hear your rolling river
The Shenandoah River is one beautiful lady
According to wiki:
Shenandoah was first printed as part of William L. Alden's article "Sailor Songs", in the July 1882 issue of Harper's New Monthly Magazine.
The song had become popular as a sea-chanty with British sailors by the 1880s.
Alfred Mason Williams' 1895 Studies in Folk-song and Popular Poetry called it a "good specimen of a bowline chant". In his 1931 book on sea and river chanteys entitled Capstan Bars, David Bone wrote that "Oh Shenandoah" originated as a river chanty or shanty and then became popular with sea-going crews in the early 19th century.
The U.S. congressman for Missouri Ike Skelton noted in 2005 that local artist George Caleb Bingham immortalized the jolly flatboatmen who plied the Missouri River in the early 19th century; these same flatboatmen were known for their chanties, including the lovely "Oh Shenandoah". This boatmen's song found its way down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the American clipper ships, and thus around the world.
Set in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Washington & Lee University chorus singers and bands play this song in homage to their alma mater. The University names the "Washington and Lee Swing" as their fight song, but the student body, who lived in the Blue Ridge for at least four years, considers this one of their most nostalgic songs.
The Virginia Military Institute Regimental Band and Glee Club frequently perform this song, as it is widely considered that school's theme song. In this interpretation, Shenandoah refers to the home of the Virginia Military Institute and expresses the longing that a cadet experiences once he is reminded of the valley's beauty by his travels across the 'wide Missouri'.
Oh Shenandoah has been recorded by 63 different artists and groups over the years, from Bob Dylan and Jerry Garcia, Michael Landon on The Ponderosa to Bing Crosby, Harry Belafonte and the Harvard Glee Club!
State Parks Volunteer Coordinator Gaston Rouse loves the song Shenandoah and always tries to get the Youth Conservation Corps crews to sing it for him. Unfortunately the kids usually have never heard of it. But, sometimes they try.
The lyrics may tell the story of a roving trader in love with the daughter of an Indian chief; in this interpretation, the rover tells the chief of his intent to take the girl with him far to the west, across the Missouri River. Other interpretations tell of a pioneer's nostalgia for the Shenandoah River Valley in Virginia, and a young woman who is his daughter; or of a Union soldier in the American Civil War, dreaming of his country home to the west of the Missouri river, in Shenandoah, Iowa (though the town lies some 50 miles east of the river). The provenance of the song is unclear.
The song is also associated with escaped slaves. They were said to sing the song in gratitude because the river allowed their scent to be lost.
The Shenandoah area made many parts like wheels and seats for wagons going west. These parts were assembled in Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and settlers set out in Conestoga wagons down the Ohio River, on the Mississippi and west up the Missouri River. Lyrics were undoubtedly added by rivermen, settlers, and the millions who went west.
Shenandoah River State Park is 1,604 acres, 5.6 miles of river frontage along the south fork of the Shendandoah River. The rolling, mountainous land features steep slopes and is mostly wooded. In addition to meandering river frontage, the park offers scenic vistas overlooking Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.
Overnight Facilities:
The park is open year-round; it has standard tent only sites, electric-water camping, four camping cabins (bunkhouses), regular cabins and a lodge. For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK (7275). Click here for park fees.
Click here for a Google map. Latitude, 38.854777. Longitude, -78.306552.
Shenandoah River State Park, 350 Daughter of Stars Drive, Bentonville, VA 22610; Phone: (540) 622-6840, Fax: (540) 622-6841; Email,shenandoahriver.
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
