“Shady Grove” is an Appalachian folk song that is often linked to the English ballad “Matty Groves”. But what is the actual relationship between them? This episode of Folk Files discusses the meaning of “Shady Grove” and untangles the origins of these two songs.
Host: Olivia Harding
Special thanks to: Aaron J Morton.
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Musical excerpts:
ARTIST: Doc Watson
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0f-dCMSVKQ
ARTIST: Jean Ritchie
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFw78zP39Y4
ARTIST: Jennifer Goree
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.ghostmeat.com/jennifergoree.html
ARTIST: Michael Johnathon
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvsTIvwgNI0
ARTIST: Jerry Garcia and the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZBuFXlISkQ
ARTIST: Billy Strings
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGScvVTHqQo
ARTIST:The Kingston Trio
WORK: Old Joe Clark
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS7dH-CYed0
ARTIST: Kentucky Thorobreds
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46eBbMhB-TI
ARTIST: Hedy West
WORK: Barbara Allen
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzTAsbdztMY
ARTIST: Music the Gathering
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.musicthegathering.com/store/lvl-3-digital-album-petnc-8c8hy
ARTIST: Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl
WORK: Matty Groves
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdyUqIfGa1Y
ARTIST: Martin Carthy
WORK: Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7-hYd7PdM
ARTIST: Fairport Convention
WORK: Matty Groves
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1it7BP5PckI
ARTIST: Music the Gathering
WORK: Shady Grove
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aacCgKWGoWg