Added: 5 years ago
From: WookieCookie
Views: 588,359
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (282)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • i wish someone would post The Browns version of this tune

  • Although far from there now, I never hear this song, that it doesn't bring back some of the most pleasant memories of my youth. Growing up in the Shenandoah, Front Royal, Va., I have a very reverent feeling about the land, the Valley, I left.

  • @sugarfoot59 I know exactly how you feel. Being a native Virginian I love this song and of course the Statler Brothers. Although this song does not directly relate to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, in my mind it always will.

  • @rockandrollronnie Yep, I hear ya. But, exactly WHAT does this song refer to, if it isn't The Valley! I mean, the Shenandoah is the river too, but it does, after all, flow through the Valley, and is, more or less, synonymous with the Valley, so I suppose it could be the river, but heck, they're almost one in the same. When one hears about the Shenandoah, automatically you shift gears into thinking one of two things immediately....The Valley OR, The River.

  • @sugarfoot59 Do a Wickipedia search on Shenandoah. There are several theories to what this song refers to. The song is probably two hundred years old. You really have the liberty to put your own theory to it. Whatever, it is a great & haunting song. Ronnie

  • @rockandrollronnie I can do that, I guess I'm just biased, as for me personally, Shenandoah just shouts Virginia, as I don't know of anyplace else that, that name conjures up.

  • @rockandrollronnie And.......That means, what?......yep, Virginia! I know I certainly don't think of Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia or anywhere else.......do you?

  • No! Wrong chords.

  • Beautiful

  • This is very nice...and I'm a black girl from Detroit! I always loved singing this song in glee club.

    Good music is good music

  • Little brother used my account. I dont even like this.

  • This is great thanks for sharing.

  • Love Lew de Witt love his voice it is so sad he died so young, at least I got to see them in 1980 one of the best shows I have been to.

  • @ serfo69 .. try google translate

  • Song was sung by the Kingston Trio n 1960.

  • Years ago when I was a DJ on a station in Osage Beach, MO., I had a Statler Album with this song. It gave credit for the lyrics to all four of the original Statlers. A Couple of years ago, I contacted their publicist in Stauton, VA and he confirmed that they indeed did coin the lyrics to this old song.

  • @flic5180 Actually, this is a traditional American folk song, dating at least to the early 19th century. Its origin is uncertain.

  • @flic5180

    STAUNTON, VA PRONOUNCED "STANTON" STAUNTON FOLKS ARE TOUCHY ABOUT THAT. THEY SET ME STRAIGHT. BEAUTIFUL SONG THOUGH. I'M AMERICAN BY BIRTH AND A VIRGINIAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

  • Lew was the tenor in the group. Don was the lead singer. Great group! One of my all time favorites!

  • ty for posting.

  • Fantastic singing, although not really in the spirit of the song I feel. But still! Great to listen to.

  • Comment removed

  • Spot on harmony !!

  • The version on their "Greatest Hits" CD is much better. I like this one, though.

  • I study at a conservatory of music and I sing this song in choir and my choir teacher asked me to find this song on youtube and all versions of the shenandoah this should be funnier

    ;) 

  • awnok; "relax. It's only a song!" Sure, but, done right ("right") it's just beautiful; if not, it's practically offensive (I couldn't believe it when my long-time favorite Bruce Springsteen botched it). To me, this is, so far, the definitive version. I agree with DesertFox101. (The guys at the Civil War reinactment do a good one, too)

  • This is a great version of the song and the black and white images only add to it's Beauty.

  • Very disappointing. Listen to Jo Stafford or Tennessee Ernie Ford!

    JohnRinghaddy

  • @johnastringer How is this disappointing? Their notes are articulated identically, their harmonies are good and balanced, their voices are just operatic enough to combine folk and gospel. This is great music.

  • It's only "disappointing" after listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford or Jo Stafford. Wow. But each to his own tastes. This is just a little too lighthearted, feel-good, fun version for my tastes.

  • @crimerookie I will have to say you are right each to his own, but I have to say you just watched greatness. The Statlers were the second most popular music act second only to Frank Sinatra. They were great with Lew and Jimmie.

    

  • Some of the commentators on this video really should relax. It's only a song!

  • @Monarchos

    You are correct that Lew's guitar work is a bit sloppy in spots, but his voice is outstanding.

  • One of the Statler Brother was nick named "Rabbit" and he dated my mother's sister who was a bathing suit model for the local department store in Staunton named Belk - (I still have full page newspaper adds - with her in a bathing suit from the 1950's!) for a while - until she wrecked his brand new blue convertable!!!

    My entire family is from Staunton Virginia - where the Statler Brothers are from - and got their start - singing in Gypsy Hill Park - for free!!!!!

  • I love this song and most of its arrangements. This is a great tempo for it. Anyone who thinks this is the best or the worst is a failure. It simply is.

  • @Supermassively You've done well at making unfounded statements...the worst of which is saying that this is the right tempo for this song.

  • @Monarchos You're barking up the wrong tree here buddy, the Statlers are the best. Lew DeWitt can't play guitar well? Get out of here.

  • @Monarchos saying the statler brothers "rendition sucks", who are you to say that and what group do you sing with??? and plus who cares if he can't play guitar that well, you are just ignorant and need to get a life!

  • @Carter6886 I don't sing with a group. I can't sing, so I don't. Unfortunately some people and groups can't follow that good advice :)

  • A classic American folk song. Statlers is perhaps not the best rendition, but good. Thanks to YouTube for informing me the Brothers are from Staunton, VA. I've been there and I thought their only famous native was the questionable Woodrow Wilson!!

  • I wish there were other versions of this on YouTube that have this upbeat American folk sound rather than a bunch of formal classical singers singing it in a stuffy, unemotional way.

  • @Supermassively Actually this rendition sucks. Worst I've ever heard, and only bad one I've ever heard of this song. Shenandoah is supposed to be a slow song, sung very deliberately. It's like singing the national anthem three times as fast, it just doesn't fit.

  • @Monarchos Well, I'm sorry that you don't have an ear for good music.

  • @Supermassively Actually I do, which is why I don't like this rendition and prefer it to be sung at the right tempo :-)

  • @Monarchos This is the right tempo. This is a spirited American folk song - not a formal, classical arrangement.

  • @Supermassively Folk music doesn't necessarily mean fast. My Old Kentucky Home is a folk song and it is slow.  Likewise, classical doesn't necessarily mean slow.

  • @Monarchos This rendition isn't fast. The other ones are just far too slow and formal. Nowhere in my comments did I say that this is a fast version.

    The other versions are just boring as hell.

  • @Supermassively Your saying that it is too slow for a folk song implies that folk songs have to be above a certain tempo. And the others are just the right speed.

    And I don't think you'd find hell boring ;-)

  • @Monarchos Stop putting words in my mouth. You are making no logical sense here.

    You only think the others are at the right speed because you have no taste in music and don't understand what makes a song emotional and moving.

    And "boring as hell" is a figure of speech. Take an English class.

  • I don't want to be contentious; but, while I agree that the band was never the same without him, I have a hard time calling Lew the "lead" singer. He was just one fourth of one small group that sang the world's songs... :-)

  • Lew DeWitt was the tenor singer for the Statler's.

  • This is better than Lady Gaga =)

  • @mezooo2020 ...yes it is, but so is the Spanish flu :-P

  • Yes, Lew was the man.

  • lew was the best!

  • beautiful song

  • Oh Shenandoah I love your daughter away you rolling river

    Oh Shenandoah I love your daughter

    Away I'm bound the way cross the wide Missouri

  • I grew up listening to the Statlers; they have been my all-time favorites for a long time. Their harmonies are superb. They also wrote many of their hits and are still the unequalled 9-time CMA vocal group of the year winners. The bluegrass duo, Dailey and Vincent (Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent), have a tribute album to them. Awesome sound too.

  • beautiful song :)

  • i live in the city from where they came from my guitar teacher is lew dewitts son

  • If only there were singers like this around now. What has the music industry come to?

  • Beautiful, beautiful harmony!!! We, the public, should be grateful this clip was found.

  • Thank God my folks took me to see them when I was little.

  • Wow!! I learned this song in 4th grade and have loved it ever since. The version by the Statler Brothers is one of my favorites. Their harmony cannot be surpassed. It is absolutely the best. Somehow they remind me of the Sons of the Pioneers in their vocal blends. Thanks for the great video.

  • Trampled By Turtles do an amazing version of this song...worth checking out for sure.

  • I love these guys... They were so young here! Only one didn't change is Phil!

  • Good song, but can't the Statler Brothers do at least one song where they don't switch keys?

  • it wasnt the lead singer it was the tenor.....Little wille replaced him...

  • @rodbonjovi

    little jimmy fortune

  • The Staler Brothers were MY IDOLS!!!!

  • And you know what's great? These men are all from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. How fitting that they of all groups sing it so beautifully.

  • @awayhaha Yes they were. Staunton is about 10-15 miles from me. I'm glad I could be from the same county Augusta County as this great group.

  • Mickey Newbury's version is my favorite by far....

  • God bless you sir (Parisboy2)! You honor your countrymen and honor those you served with by your comments. Thank you.

  • @baggerbokaie Thanks friend !

  • @baggerbokaie  thanks my friend.

  • interesting. . . .

  • brilliant....perfect harmony..........

  • This may well be the best vid on the tube, the harmony, Cash at the intro, everything is perfect.

  • Wow now that's singing

  • @croninuscg Yeah. Great harmony. By the way, whatever happened to singing groups. I'm probably empty-headed right now because I can't think of any modern singing groups. Just bands and collaborations.

  • @BatchFileHelper Sure is.  The Statlers broke in with Johnny and cut "Flowers On The Wall" during a 10 minute break at one of Cash's recording sessions. That's the kind of stuff that used to make music fun. Rags to riches, catching lightning in a bottle. Now it's all pre-packaged, major label or nothing. Too bad. Long live Lew DeWitt!

  • so fantastic,,,truly beautiful

  • beautiful, wonderful quartet

  • Comment removed

  • Nice!!! Well done boys! :)

  • Incredible harmonies!

  • Are you named The brown that man, which standing left? Sorry for me English, I am just a Russian with bad knowledge language... But this man is the best in this commande, I think so. Sorry twice. I am very want to tell someone, but its so difficult)

  • @serfo69 i agree, he's pretty good.

  • @serfo69 Harold Reid

  • You sure can feel the people rollin' West, alot of good blood trickled out that way.

  • My late father in-law used to play this on the hamonica,,Memories

  • I enjoyed the video. It must have been one of their first as young as they looked

  • There are like 5000 different versions of this song on YouTube, and this is the only good one. I wish there were more done in this style, rather than the flat, boring choral style.

  • this kills compared to some of the other top Shenandoah videos on the YouTubes! I prefer it slower, too, but this is still top notch.

  • great

  • two steps better then great

  • wow reminds me of my 8th grade concert recital!!1.. good ol days

  • Hello i was soldier during the liban war in french paratrooper regiment. And we fought side by side with a US marine regiment (great soldiers) and this men sang this song but very slowly..nice song and sad souvenirs.

    Honor for my friends and for the Marines gones over there.

    Sorry for my english . God bless America

  • Your English is fine, sir. And God bless YOU!

  • Thanks mate !

  • It is never too late to praise your comrades. And you become a part of those you admire.

  • À parisboy92, aucune excuse n'est nécessaire. Votre anglais est excellent, mais mon Français est très pauvre. Merci à nos amis dans la terre de Lafayette.

  • merci mon ami !

  • @parisboy92 Your friend sang it probably in Tennesie Ernie Ford's fashion. I myself prefer it as well...

  • @parisboy92 God bless you, the Marines and the French Airborne. Your service is not forgotten. 3/361 TSBn 'Mountain Warriors'. Take the high ground!

  • @BroughamConspiracy Thank you very mutch !

  • @parisboy92 ...as an american, this one of the more interesting comments i've ever seen on youtube....lol, u needn't apologize to us...we don't know any french! lol...God bless france :)

  • @parisboy92 God bless you. You were a brave hero.

    And, yes, your English is just fine.

  • @cards0486 Merci my friend

  • @parisboy92 Thank you and God bless you.

  • @parisboy92

    God bless you, Sir.

  • @parisboy92 There is nothing wrong with your english. Thanks for sharing. I was touched by your comment. GOD BLESS YOU!!

  • @suziGu

    Merci Madame ..je suis trés touché

    Pierre

  • @parisboy92 thanks for sharing your lovely memory. i'm sorry that you and your friends had to meet each other in a war; god bless you as well.

  • @parisboy92 Thank you for serving sir , your english is wonderful ! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ITS PEOPLE!

  • @1987bmansfield

    Thank you very much mate !

  • i SO remember singing this badly as a youngin' and it made me happy tonight.

  • i remember we sung this song in 2-3 grade.

  • we need the main theme from the movie with Jimmy Steward

  • That was a great movie

  • The ending is the best part and it's all the best part:)

  • you you

  • i HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL THE OLD VIDEOS BY THESE GUYS.. i GREW UP LISTENING TO THEM

  • Absolutley great song by these guys! I listen to it over and over. I love the harmonies, as the Statler Brothers do best. Anyone with a love for music can really appreciate the Statler Brothers

  • we're singing this in choir now! :D

  • Yeah, we sang it at All-State back in middle school in 1999.

  • Rockin!

  • Totally beautiful, my eighth grade teacher taught it HORIBBLY!

  • I actually learned this song in 7th grade drama class. I can't imagine what kind of crap they're teaching kids nowadays.

  • Given that your profile says you are 108 years old, I'd say things have changed a lot since you were in 7th grade!!

  • rofl

  • that's probably the best I've heard this song sung, and the harmony is great!

  • wow that;s old, Always liked the Statler Bros.

  • These guys are F'ing metal!

  • Now that's how it's done.

  • real music right here

  • Nothing like old-fashioned perfect vocal harmony to make you appreciate life more.

  • Met them at a Wendy's restaruant a few years ago. Never seen them in concert tho

  • Great find, but Lew was actually the Tenor. Don Reid is the real lead. The Statler Brothers are easily my favorite group of all time!

  • The descent at 1:24, alone, is worth the price of admission which, to people at the time, was an expensive TV set.

    This was back when getting some air-time really meant something.

  • Does a cd-quality audio recording exist of this somewhere?

  • Heartland music, soothes one's soul after hearing the garbage that is called music nowadays.

  • Very good at harmonizing. classic!

  • "Mighty fine"

  • mighty fine indeed

  • The most remarkable thing in these images is the incredible expressions on the faces of these macnificent singers.

  • elvis used this melody.a tender feeling from kissung cousins...he must have loved this version...i know i do...and im the biggest elvis fan Rusty james

  • The beautiful voice of Lew DeWitt is charming, and The Statler Bros sing perfectly!!

  • i <3 this song!

    but only in the version mr. ticheli wrote...

  • this song sounds so much different when we play it in strings. its a great song! the only thing thats diff. from the way we play it and they way they sing/play it is with us it sounds so much softer and prettier. :)

  • THE STATLER BROS. are the best group to ever sing including all the southern gospel groups that I do love too,but the STATLERS have a harmony and distinctive sound all their own, that I feel never will be matched. Their rendition of shenandoah, superb.I've listened to them since 1961 when I was working in a logging camp in cental British Columbia.Thankyou Statlers for those years of beautiful heart touching music.

  • Thank you so much!!!

    If you want to come to Staunton Va then we can go to the Statler Brothers Memory Store....

  • mein vater singt im männerchor die hauptstimme

  • my German is rather rusty. I think you are saying that your father sang the high voice for this song when he was in a choir, right? That's pretty cool!

  • less rusty - its just what i sayed^^

    and they had a solo which my father was singin :)

  • Thanks! That's a nice memory of your father. And what a beautiful song.

  • oh my father still sings there hes not dead or something like that^^

  • Oh, OK! I didn't mean to imply that your father is dead. Sorry!

  • never mind^^

  • What do you mean would Elizabeth been written if Lew had lived? He died in 1990 and this song was recorded at least as early as 1983!

  • This black and white video is one of the best on YouTube.

  • Agreed. The quality of the video is poor but the content is superb!

  • I would say, "macnificent" sir.

  • good choice of a word, I agree!

  • i would say...... ummm..... "stupendous" sirs.

  • Classic ole confederate song

    God Bless the Statlers and the South

  • THe song does not have anything specifically to do with the Conferderacy or the Confederate government. It was a riverboat-man's song from the mid 1800's. Pure Americana.

  • I love it when informed people make great comments on YT.

    I also love this song, we sang it in choir in 8th grade, and now I sing it to my autistic son at night to put him to sleep.

    =D

  • Lew DeWitt was my favorite on How Great Thou Art. Thanks for the video

  • i heard they played 'how great thou art' at luther perkins funeral

  • That's right!

  • A rare chance to see and hear "Shenandoah" with Lew DeWitt as the Lead Singer. Jimmy

    is not forgotten... Thank you!

  • lew forever but on the statler bros. show did you see how long lew held his breath on noah found grace in the eyes of the lord on the part high and dryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! that was awsome lew you will be missed but they got a great new tinor you would be verry happy with the groups sucess since you left. i always wounderd if lew had lived would elizibeth been written?

  • Great piece of music and harmonical singing!