Story Behind The Song
Shimnecon is a Chippewa/Ojibwa word meaning Ox Bow where the Indian Chief Okemos made his summer camp in Michigan in the 1800's. The word is undefined as of yet, I found two meanings, the other being 'apple orchard'. This is an area where the Grand River makes a sweeping bend like an Ox Bow. In this area are numerous apple trees.
Chief Okemos was buried there and the Daughters of the Revolution had a huge granite stone placed over his grave site in the early 1900's.
As kids/teenagers we would go there and hold RAVE parties or 'grassers' as we called them then. It was rumoured that the Chief was still roaming the fields and was sighted a few times.
Song Description
A mid-tempo with the hint of Indian tom-toms in the intro. An unusual melody over which the story is told of returning to an old 'haunt' where the singer is rediscovering the joys of a simpler time.
| Song Length |
3:30 |
Genre |
Folk - Alternative, Rock - Alternative |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Peaceful, Blissful |
Subject |
Life, Spirituality |
| Similar Artists |
Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band, Dire Straits |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Riding the trails through the hills with my horse
I've never seen the skies any bluer
Thinking about all my friends in the north
Wondering what they've been doing
Hey! I've never seen brighter days
Where we weren't doing something
Like tumbling weeds in Shimnecon
Oh Shimnecon
Say, I just remembered one time
Back at Okemos Road's beginning
There's a ghost you'll hear them say
That walks among the living
Be respectful of the life
That Mother Nature's giving
The Chief himself is watching you, so...
Keep yourself a singing
Keep yourself a singing
Hiding away from the crush of the world
Searching the woods for his gravestone
Feeling my spirit in touch with the earth
Taking the time to be reborn
Hey! I've never seen brighter days
Where we weren't doing something
Like tumbling weeds in Shimnecon
Oh Shimnecon