“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