Shady Grove  
KDM Broadside Continued …  
Appalachian folk also infused a lot of  
their Scots-Irish culture within their  
music as well, and adapted musical  
instruments from around the world that  
have become unique to the  
Appalachian cultures. The Low-octave  
mandolin, for example, was often  
referred to as an “Appalachian Harp.”  
The “Mountain Dulcimer” was a similar  
2-4 stringed instrument that is played  
on the lap or on a table, and another 4  
to 5 stringed instrument was adopted  
from Africa as the “Banjo.”  
The title of “Shady Grove” also gives hints as to what the song itself  
is about. In many ballads inherited out of the older Celtic cultures, the  
term, “shade” is a catch word for a spirit, or something pertaining to  
death, or to the world beyond. “Grove,” can allude to flower groves  
which are frequently found within grave yards.  
In addition, grave yards often had rose gardens within them, and this  
analogy was also used in the ballad, “Barbara Allan,” for the  
relationship between Barbara and William. As a note, the term was  
also used in the title of “Mattie Groves” where death was the  
ultimate theme in that ballad as well.  
Like Mattie Groves, the melody  
in Shady Grove is lively, though  
the theme of the song is somber.  
In the Appalachian version, it is  
the girl who dies first, and the  
young man follows her to marry  
her in the afterlife.  
This sentiment with the  
expression, “I’m bound to go  
away” is used in each chorus  
and refers to the commitment the  
singer had in being with his love  
in the afterlife.  
There have been many versions  
of the lyrics for Shady Grove.  
The version that is used in the  
KDM project was very popular  
with rural folk (Old Time Music)  
Made public stock image  
in the late 1800s and continuing  
into the1960s and 70s.  
Continued …  

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