- Style
- Old-time
- Tradition
- Appalachian
- Key
- A Dorian
- Level
- 2
- Played on
- Voice
In the public domain. Source
Music
90bpm
Click any note to start from there
Chord chart
History
Shady Grove is a common American place name, with towns called that in Virginia and Kentucky, so the title doesn't point to one spot. The song is from the Southern mountains and is sung in the Dorian mode.
Jean Ritchie's family book Singing Family of the Cumberlands (1955) has her father's story of the first fiddle he ever heard. A visitor played "Shady Grove" at his Kentucky schoolhouse so fast that the boys jumped up and danced. His family had always sung it, but never at that speed.
Cheeks as red as a bloomin rose, Eyes of the deepest brown, You are the darlin of my heart, Stay till the sun goes down.
Shady Grove, my little love, Shady Grove I know, Shady Grove, my little love, Bound for the Shady Grove.