"Shady Grove" is a traditional Appalachian folk song believed to have originated in eastern Kentucky around the beginning of the 20th century. It is set in Dorian mode and was first published in the Journal of American Folklore, dated 1915. The song has been widely adopted in the repertoire of bluegrass, as well as being common among old-time musicians of the Cumberlands. Sung by both traditional folk musicians and folk revival musicians, it is sometimes identified as a courting song. The song d