Shady Grove Lyrics by Doc Watson
Doc Watson Lyrics
(chorus)
Shady Grove, my little love
Shady Grove I say
Shady Grove, my little love
I'm bound to go away
Cheeks as red a a blooming rose
And eyes are the prettiest brown
She's the darling of my heart
Sweetest girl in towm
(chorus)
(break)
I wish I had a big fine horse
And corn to feed him on
And Shady Grove to stay at home
And feed him while I'm gone
(chorus)
(break)
Went to see my Shady Grove
She was standing in the door
Her shoes and stockin's in her hand
And her little bare feet on the floor
(chorus)
(break)
When I was a little boy
I wanted a Barlow knife
And now I want little Shady Grove
To say she'll be my wife
(chorus)
(break)
A kiss form pretty little Shady Grove
Is sweet as brandy wine
And ther ain't no girl in this old world
Thats's prettier than mine
(chorus)
Song Facts:
- Genre: Folk, Bluegrass
- Lyricist: Traditional, popularized by Doc Watson
Artist Info:
Doc Watson was a really big influence on the American guitarist, songwriter, and folk, bluegrass, country, blues, and gospel vocalist; he was born in the North Carolina state in 1923, and he spent his childhood during the flowering of the American folk music revival in the 1960s. His guitar style of flatpicking, especially in the virtuosic sense, was a major influence. Music that was deeply placed in the Appalachian musical traditions of the people, Watson sang and played with great ability, always giving fresh life to the older materials. Watson's musical career, heralded by the tragedy of his blindness early in his life, left an indelible, lasting mark on traditional American music and rings with the kind of depth that only he had a special ability to communicate with audiences and peer musicians.
Annotations and Meaning:
"Shady Grove" was a standard American folk song performed by many, but the most famous rendition of the tune was by Doc Watson. The song speaks about the character Shady Grove, with the narrator pinning on a soft spot for her.
The chorus, "Shady Grove, my little love, Shady Grove, I say," serves as a parting rejoinder. The much more streamlined lyricist maintains chorus words to a minimum, personifying the verse and giving the text a human voice. It not only emphasizes the emotional attachment of the narrator to Shady Grove by calling her name several times but also begins to feel a sort of bittersweet departure.
The verses of the song lyric are romantic and, let's say, idealized when speaking about Shady Grove. They describe her appearance in terms of traditional characteristics like "cheeks as red as a blooming rose," "eyes of the prettiest brown." Such idealization passes and dreams of domesticity with reference to future plans, like owning a big fine horse and having it cared for by Shady Grove.
The song goes on to touch on some childhood wants related to adult desires with the narrator transitioning from wanting a Barlow knife as a boy to desiring Shady Grove as a wife. Such transition from childhood playthings to adult relationships has woven in it the theme of coming of age.
Also, the line, "A kiss from pretty little Shady Grove is sweet as brandy wine, and there ain't no girl in this whole world that's prettier than mine," further shows just how much in love he is and is happiest with her. He brings out the sweetness of young love and the perception of Shady Grove by the narrator as being beyond beauty and lovely to have.
Doc Watson Chords
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Doc Watson Chords
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