Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

  1. #1
    Registered User Steve VandeWater's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    569

    Default Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    Okay, here's a topic I've thought about a lot. I could fill an entire cd with different versions of Shady Grove. Its one of my favorite tunes. Sometimes upbeat and sometimes hauntingly mournful. Please post some of your favorite verses below. Here's one I recently heard that is out of the ordinary by The Whipstitch Sallies

    If I had no horse at all, I'd be found a crawlin',
    up and down this rocky road, lookin' for my darlin'.

    There are countless versions of this tune. I'd like to see how any different verses are out there.
    It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Kernersville, NC
    Posts
    2,593
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    That's one I hadn't heard
    I only know the common ones but here's my favorite:

    'Wish I had a needle and thread, finest I could sew,
    I'd stitch that pretty girl to my side, and down the road I'd go'

  3. The following members say thank you to Mark Wilson for this post:


  4. #3
    Registered User Russ Donahue's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    869

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    "Wish I had a banjo string, made of golden twine,
    every tune I'd play on it I'd wish that gal were mine."
    Make America Grateful Again!

    2013 Collings MF, 2017 Northfield NF2S, 2019 Northfield Big Mon F
    1968 Martin D12-20, 2008 Martin HD28, 2022 Martin CEO 7
    1978 Ibanez Artist "Flying Eagle" Masterclone Banjo

  5. #4
    Registered User Steve VandeWater's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    569

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    I like that one and never heard it before either. Whose version of the song is that?
    It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!

  6. #5
    String-Bending Heretic mandocrucian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    3,210

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    My favorite rendition of the song.... (by the real Quicksilver......Quicksilver Messenger Service)


  7. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Kernersville, NC
    Posts
    2,593
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve VandeWater View Post
    I like that one and never heard it before either. Whose version of the song is that?
    I heard it on the Garcia/Grisman Shady Grove CD - I might have corrupted it some

  8. The following members say thank you to Mark Wilson for this post:


  9. #7
    Beginner
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    108

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    Quote Originally Posted by Russ Donahue View Post
    "Wish I had a banjo string, made of golden twine,
    every tune I'd play on it I'd wish that gal were mine."
    That MUST be a mistake, clearly it should be:

    "Wish I had a mandolin string, made of golden twine"

    kind of awkward with the syllables, but it can be made to work....

  10. The following members say thank you to LillianBelle for this post:

    Cindy 

  11. #8
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Sugar Grove,PA
    Posts
    3,364
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    Quote Originally Posted by LillianBelle View Post
    That MUST be a mistake, clearly it should be:

    "Wish I had a mandolin string, made of golden twine"

    kind of awkward with the syllables, but it can be made to work....
    Really its "wish I had a mando string" Thats how I sing her!

  12. #9
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    The distinction I find in Shady Grove is what words one sings in the "chorus," or repeated verse:

    Shady Grove, my little love, Shady Grove I know,
    Shady Grove, my little love, bound for (the) Shady Grove


    or

    Shady Grove, my little love, Shady grove my darlin',
    Shady Grove, my little love, goin' back to Harlan


    Many sing "true love" instead of "little love," which is more or less a matter of taste, I guess. As to verses, I've heard almost every "zipper" verse in old-time music sung to the tune, from

    Higher up the cherry tree, riper grows the cherry,
    More you kiss and hug the girls, sooner that they'll marry


    to

    Raccoon's got a ringy tail, possum's tail is bare,
    Rabbit's got no tail at all, just a little bitty bunch of hair


    The one I've only heard from "city-billy" folk revivalists is

    Goin' back to Shady Grove, don't know how or when;
    When I get to Shady Grove, never gonna leave again
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  13. The following members say thank you to allenhopkins for this post:


  14. #10
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI.
    Posts
    7,486

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    Then there's the alternate
    "J.D. Crowe my old man, J.D. Crowe my picker
    If I don't start pickin' soon, I'll be drinkin' liquor"
    Sorry, off to the corner
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  15. The following members say thank you to Timbofood for this post:

    Cindy 

  16. #11
    Registered User Steve VandeWater's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    569

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    There's 16 horses in my trace, ev'ry rein is shinin'. I know by now tomorrow morn with Shady I'll be dinin'.
    It ain't gotta be perfect, as long as it's perfect enough!

  17. #12
    Registered User Cindy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Hyde Park, Ma
    Posts
    69

    Default Re: Alternate verses to Shady Grove

    Quote Originally Posted by LillianBelle View Post
    That MUST be a mistake, clearly it should be:

    "Wish I had a mandolin string, made of golden twine"

    kind of awkward with the syllables, but it can be made to work....
    Works with "mando string." That's how I sing it.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •