A version of the song first appeared in writing as "Shenadore" in Capt. Robert Chamblet Adams' article "Sailors' Songs" in The New Dominion Monthly in April, 1876, p 262.

Shanadore


The author, Captain Robert Chamblet Adams, indicated that he had first heard the song around 1850. 
He also included it in his 1879 book On Board the "Rocket". "Shanadore" was later printed as part of William L. Alden's article "Sailor Songs" in the July 1882 issue of Harper's New Monthly Magazine, and in the 1892 book Songs that Never Die. Alfred Mason Williams' 1895 Studies in Folk-song and Popular Poetry called it a "good specimen of a bowline chant".


Capt. Robert Chamblet Adams' article 'Sailors' Songs'
The New Dominion Monthly, April, 1876, p.262

Shanadore

Chorus:
Shanadore's a rolling river,
Hurrah, you rolling river.
Oh, Shanadore's a rolling river,
Ah hah, I'm bounding away o'er the Wild Missouri.

Shanadore's a packet sailor,
Chorus

Shanadore's a bright mulatto,
Chorus

Shanadore I long to hear you.
Chorus

And the song goes on, according to the ingenuity of the impromptu composer.

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