Way down in Shawneetown

Subject: Way down in Shawneetown
From: RonU
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 12:45 AM

Way down in Shawneetown on the O Hi O. Can anyone help me with the rest of the words to this song? Thanks, RonU

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Susan of DT
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 10:43 AM

It was either written or collected by Dillon Bustin. chorus is:

Haul on the beach oar
She moves too slow
Way down to Shawneetown
On the Ohio

Subject: Lyr Add: SHAWNEETOWN
From: Barry Finn
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 03:05 PM

Somes rows up, we flowed down
Way down the Ohio to Shawneetown

Haul on the beach oar, she moves to slow
Way down to Shawneetown on the Ohio

There's corn in crib, boys, grain in the sack
Float on down to New Orleans & bushwack her back

I've got a gal in Louisville, a wife in New Orleans
When I get to Shawneetown I'll see my Indian Queen

The water is cold boys, the air is thick & dank
The fog it's so god damned thick I cannot see the bank

I got down Sandy & Caroline Paton as a source. Barry

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Dale Rose
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 03:27 PM

Another good version, though difficult to find (and I can't locate mine, either) is by The Indian Creek Delta Boys.

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Ferrara
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 03:30 PM

Malcolm Dalglish and Grey Larsen also sing this. Their first line seems to be "Some rows up, but we floats down." I'll try to check and see if they have any additional verses.

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: RonU
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 12:03 AM

Many thanks for your responses. RonU

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Paul Stamler
Date: 05 Apr 98 - 02:12 PM

Pete Lippincott may still have some copies of the Indian Creek Delta Boys' LP "Late for the Dance", which was on his Prairie Schooner label. His address is:

[e-mail]

Peace. Paul

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Whippoorwill
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 12:48 PM

Just a little historical note:

Shawneetown is a very small town in southern Illinois, just west of the Indiana line. Like so many other river towns it was nearly washed away many times by high water, and finally moved up on the bluff. Its main claim to fame in the '50s was a justice of the peace who would perform marriages without the three-day waiting period required in Indiana. Numerous young couples from Evansville and thereabouts eloped to Shawneetown in those days, even when they had their parents' permission to marry.

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Dale Rose
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 12:01 PM

Just putting this up where Donna can find it.

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 04:03 PM

see other Shawneetown thread---I put some other stuff there...

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: FIDDLER MIKE
Date: 31 Aug 98 - 04:13 PM

The lyrics (Original I think) are in the DT Database.

Mike T.

Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Susan of DT
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 09:57 PM

Mike - note the dates on the thread and on the song. we entered the lyrics from the posting here after the thread started.