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July 17, 2024 23 mins

“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.

Join the Folk Files Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FolkFilesPodcast


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


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