Shady Grove lyrics - Jerry Garcia & David Grisman

Jerry Garcia & David Grisman "Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo" soundtrack

Shady Grove Song Lyrics

Jerry played this a few times with David Grisman in 1991-92, and long before that with the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers in 1962. The lyrics from the Garcia/Grisman versions are: 

Peaches in the summertime

Apples in the fall

If I can't get the girl I love

I don't want none at all (note 1)

Chorus

Shady grove, my little love

Shady grove, I know

Shady grove, my little love

I'm bound for shady grove

Wish I had a banjo string

Made of golden twine

Every tune I'd play on it (note 2)

I wish that girl were mine

[chorus]

Wish I had a needle and thread (note 3)

Fine as I could sew

I'd sew that pretty girl to my side

And down the road I'd go

[chorus]

Some come here to fiddle and dance

Sme come here to tarry

Some come here to fiddle and dance

I come here to marry

[chorus]

Every night when I go home (note 4)

My wife, I try to please her

The more I try, the worse she gets

Damned if I don't leave her

[chorus]

Fly around, my pretty little miss (note 5)

Fly around, my Daisy

Fly around, my pretty little miss

Nearly drive me crazy

[chorus]

Notes

(1) on the "Pizza Tapes", Jerry sings "I won't have none at all"

(2) on the "Pizza Tapes", Jerry sings "Every tune I'd pick on it"

(3) Jerry doesn't sing this verse on the "Pizza Tapes"

(4) Jerry sings this verse twice on the "Pizza Tapes"

(5) Jerry sings this verse on the "Pizza Tapes" but not on the version on "Shady Grove"

The lyrics Jerry sang in 1962 were (thank to Matt Schofield for the transcription): 

Chorus

Shady grove, my true love

Shady grove, my honey

Shady grove, my true love

Bound for shady grove

[third verse above]

Wish I had a needle and thread

Fine as I could sew

I'd sew that pretty girl to my side

And down the road I'd go

[chorus]

[new verse]

When I was a little boy

My mama told me

If I never kissed a girl

My lips would grow all mouldy

[chorus]

[fifth verse above]

Every night when I go home

(My wife?) I try to please her

The more I try the worse she gets

Damned if I don't leave her

[chorus]

[new verse]

When I was a little boy

I wanted a whittlin' knife

Now I am a great big boy

I want a little wife

[chorus]

[second verse above - with variations]

Wish I had a banjo string

Made of golden twine

Every time I play on it

I wish that girl was mine

[chorus]

4.2

Rating:

4.2/5 (21 vote)

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