Well, I was born up in the mountains

Raised up in a desert town

And I never saw the ocean

Till I was close to your age now



Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, your rolling river

Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right



I'm going back to San Angelo

The ground is hard and the count is dry

But I'm gonna get my fill somehow

Rivers of corn, and wheat and rye



Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, your rolling river

Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right



Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, your rolling river

Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right



Now, red, red, river bowing

Will she remember all the things we said?

And what's the chance that she'll remember

All those nights in the riverbed?



Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, your rolling river

Oh Shanondoah, I long to see you

Hey hey hey, only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right

Only a river gonna make things right