Hear a Stunning Performance by Jo Stafford of “Shenandoah,” or “Across the Wide Missouri,” with Original Lyrics, Plus a Traditional Version of the Lyrics

By N.S.

Jo “G.I. Jo” Stafford (1917-2008) was born in California, where she received operatic training during the 1930s. However, being that the Great Depression was on, she gave up her dream of singing in the opera, and switched her sights to popular music. She sang with her two older sisters, Pauline and Christine, in a group called “The Stafford Sisters,” until the two older ones got married.

In 1937, Stafford married John Huddleston, a union without issue. Their divorce went through in 1943.

During the early-to-mid 1940s, Stafford was the lead singer of a group that soon included a young Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), the Pied Pipers, which sang with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

In 1944, Stafford went independent, and was from 1944-1950 the most popular female singer in America. Early in this period, she began working with arranger and conductor Paul Weston, whom she married in 1950. (Presumably, they became lovers early in this period.)

Stafford and Weston remained wed until his death on September 20, 1996. She blessed him with two children, Tim and Amy Weston. “Tim Weston became a musician and record producer, and Amy became a session singer.”

Because this song in its common versions was written to be sung by a man who is leaving on a contract to be an indentured servant (if you know any history, the phrases, “seven years” and “I’m bound away,” leap out at you), Stafford, her husband, Paul Weston, or a third party, had to write almost entirely new lyrics.

And they work, beatwise, but not in terms of the story. “Away, I’m bound away,” becomes “Away, my heart’s away.”

Stafford and Weston were devoted professionally, as well. This song comes from their album, Jo Stafford Sings American Folk Songs, which was initially released on May 1, 1948, and re-released in 1961.

Weston conducted the orchestra, and surely wrote the arrangements for it.

In 1960, Stafford and Weston won the comedy Grammy for an album they’d cut that year, Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris, as a third-rate lounge act who have no idea how bad they are (Frank Fob).

(“When asked why she would not come out of retirement”:) “For the same reason that Lana Turner is not posing in bathing suits anymore.”

Jo Stafford died at 9o, on July 16, 2008.

Thanks to ami yarimi who, if there were a Harve Presnell Fan Club, would be its president, for the lyrics to the Harve Presnell version, for the background on “He’s Gone Away,” and for so much else.

23,422 views Apr 21, 2022
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Shenandoah ·

Jo Stafford American Folk Songs
A Capitol Records Release;
1961 Capitol Records, LLC
Released on: 1948-05-01
Producer: Joe Maphis
Composer Lyricist: Traditional
Auto-generated by YouTube.

Harve Presnell Version

[Note that when the man addresses “Shenandoah,” it is not clear if he is addressing Chief Shenandoah/Skenandoah, or the river and valley Washington named after him. That’s the sort of mythic character Chief Shenandoah/Skenandoah was, like Washington himself. I’ll return to him.]

Oh Shenandoah,
I long to hear you,
Way, you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,
I long to hear you,
Away, I’m bound away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh Shenandoah,
I love your daughter,
Way, you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,
I love your daughter,
Away, I’m bound away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.

[The next two verses were stolen from the famous folk song, “He’s Gone Away,” and often used in “Shenandoah.”]

Oh, who will tie your shoes?
And who will glove your hands?
And who will kiss your ruby lips when I am gone?
Look away, look away,
Over Yandro.

Your father will tie your shoes,
Your mother will glove your hands,
And I will kiss your ruby lips when I return!
Look away, look away
Over Yandro.

Oh Shenandoah,
I’m bound to leave you,
Way, you rolling river.

Oh Shenandoah,
I’ll not deceive you,
Away, I’m bound away,
‘Cross the wide Mis-sou-ri.


Jo Stafford Version

Oh, Shenandoah,
I long to see you,
Oh, you rolling river.

Oh, Shenandoah,
I long to see you,
Away, my heart’s away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, valley green,
I am your daughter,
Oh, you rolling river.

Forever more,
Your faithful daughter,
Away, my heart’s away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, meadows warm,
That spring embraces,
Oh, you rolling river,

For I have seen
A hundred places,
Away, my heart’s away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Oh, you rolling river,
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you,
Away, my heart’s away,
‘Cross the wide Missouri.