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Way down in Shawneetown

04 Apr 98 - 12:45 AM (#25084)
Subject: Way down in Shawneetown
From: RonU

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

04 Apr 98 - 10:43 AM (#25099)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Susan of DT

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

04 Apr 98 - 03:05 PM (#25127)
Subject: Lyr Add: SHAWNEETOWN
From: Barry Finn

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

04 Apr 98 - 03:27 PM (#25130)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Dale Rose

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

04 Apr 98 - 03:30 PM (#25131)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Ferrara

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.

05 Apr 98 - 12:03 AM (#25163)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: RonU

Many thanks for your responses. RonU

05 Apr 98 - 02:12 PM (#25199)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Paul Stamler

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:

dordog@cei.net

Peace. Paul

06 Apr 98 - 12:48 PM (#25264)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Whippoorwill

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.

06 Jul 98 - 12:01 PM (#31873)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Dale Rose

Just putting this up where Donna can find it.

12 Jul 98 - 04:03 PM (#32358)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Art Thieme

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

Art Thieme

31 Aug 98 - 04:13 PM (#36611)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: FIDDLER MIKE

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

Mike T.

01 Sep 98 - 09:57 PM (#36748)
Subject: RE: Way down in Shawneetown
From: Susan of DT

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