“Oh Shenandoah” (also called simply “Shenandoah”, or “Across the Wide Missouri”) is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating at least to the early 19th century, perhaps one of America’s most recognizable folk tunes, the origins of “Shenandoah” are not so easily deciphered. Like many folksongs, it is impossible to determine exactly when the song was composed, yet it probably did not originate later than the Civil War. In any case, by the nineteenth century, “Shenandoah” had achieved widespread popularity, both on land and at sea. Continue reading →