"Shady Grove" (Roud 4456) is a traditional Appalachian folk song,Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians as Sung by Jean Ritchie (University Press of Kentucky, 2d ed. 1997), p. 34. believed to have originated in eastern Kentucky around the beginning the 20th century. The song was popular among old-time musicians of the Cumberlands before being widely adopted in the bluegrass repertoire.Jean Ritchie, Jean Ritchie's Swapping Song Book (University Press of Kentucky (1999), pp. 34-37 & Charles Wolfe forward. Many variants of "Shady Grove" exist (up to 300 stanzas by the early 21st century).Fiona Ritchie & Doug Orr (2014). Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. pp. xv, 184-5, 358. .
The lyrics describes "the true love of a young man's life and his hope they will wed,"Fiona Ritchie & Doug Orr (2014). Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage from Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. pp. xv, 183, 358. . and it is sometimes identified as a courting song.Ray Allen, Gone to the Country: The New Lost City Ramblers and the Folk Music Revival (University of Illinois Press, 2010), p. 34.
Link to "Matty Groves" The Dorian mode melody was first published as "Shady Grove" in the Journal of American Folklore in 1915, but it was traditionally used in Appalachia for the ballad Matty Groves, as sung by traditional singers including Sheila Kay Adams ("Lady Margaret") and Dillard Chandler ("Mathie Groves"). This suggests that the melody may originate in England or Scotland. There is also speculation that the name Shady Grove may be a place-name, a woman's name or nickname, or possibly a mondegreen.
Popular versions Doc Watson helped popularize "Shady Grove", after presumably learning it from Jean Ritchie, who in turn learned the song from her father.
Fairport Convention released a popular version of Matty Groves in 1969 using the traditional "Shady Grove" tune on their album Liege and Lief. The tune was also used by folk duo John Roberts and Tony Barrand for "The False Lady", a variant of "Young Hunting".
"Shady Grove" has been recorded by numerous artists, including Jean Ritchie, the Kingston Trio, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, Mudcrutch, Bill Monroe, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Suzy Bogguss, Crooked Still, Taj Mahal, Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, Ricky Skaggs, Blood Oranges, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Chieftains, Uncle Sinner, Patty Loveless, Jayke Orvis, and Camper Van Beethoven.Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, 1960-1962, Smithsonian Folkways. It also was performed by The Dillards on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show - "Divorce Mountain Style." The melody appears on the soundtrack of the 1994 game Sid Meier's Colonization.
Score One score is as follows:
References
External links Live version of "Shady Grove" by Doc Watson recorded at the 1996 Florida Folk Festival and reproduced by the State Archives of Florida (source page)