Shady Grove
"Shady Grove" is a traditional Appalachian song, believed to come from eastern Kentucky around the start of the 20th century. Old-time musicians of the Cumberlands played it first, and it later became a bluegrass and folk-revival favourite.
- Origin
- Eastern Kentucky, around 1900
- Type
- Courting song
- First published
- Journal of American Folklore, 1915
- Index
- Roud 4456
What the song is about
It is usually described as a courting song: a young man sings of his true love and hopes they will marry. Verses come and go freely, and by the early 21st century collectors counted up to 300 different stanzas. Nobody is sure where the name comes from; it may be a place, a woman's name or nickname, or a misheard phrase.
History
The melody was first published as "Shady Grove" in the Journal of American Folklore in 1915. In Appalachia the same tune was also used for the old ballad "Matty Groves", sung by singers such as Sheila Kay Adams and Dillard Chandler, and Fairport Convention used it for their "Matty Groves" on Liege and Lief (1969).
Doc Watson helped make the song widely known; he probably learned it from Jean Ritchie, who had it from her father. Watson recorded it with Clarence Ashley in the early 1960s for Folkways.
Who has played it
Besides Doc Watson and Jean Ritchie, versions have come from Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs, The Chieftains, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, the Kingston Trio, Taj Mahal and Billy Strings. The Dillards played it on The Andy Griffith Show.
We describe this song rather than print its words: versions differ from singer to singer, and many of the best-known texts come from particular recordings.
It is a favourite tune for the Appalachian dulcimer and banjo. Explore the old-time tradition.