“Roll On, Columbia”
Written & Performed by: Woodie Guthrie
Green Douglas-firs where the waters cut through
Down her wild mountains and canyons she flew
Canadian Northwest to the ocean so blue
Roll on Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on, roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning our darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on.
Other great rivers add power to you
Yakima, Snake, and the Klickitat, too
Sandy, Willamette and Hood River too
So roll on, Columbia, roll on
CHORUS
It’s there on your banks that we fought many a fight
Sheridan’s boys in the blockhouse that night
They saw us in death, but never in flight
Roll on Columbia, roll on
CHORUS
Our loved ones we lost there at Coe’s little store
By fireball and rifle, a dozen or more
We won by the Mary and soldiers she bore
Roll on Columbia, roll on
Remember the trial when the battle was won?
The wild Indian warriors to the tall timber run
We hung every Indian with smoke in his gun
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Year after year we had tedious trials
Fighting the rapids at Cascades and Dalles
The Injuns rest peaceful on Memaloose Isle
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
CHORUS
At Bonneville now there are ships in the locks
The waters have risen and cleared all the rocks
Shiploads of plenty will steam past the docks
So roll on, Columbia, roll on
And on up the river is Grand Coulee Dam
The mightiest thing ever built by a man
To run the great factories for Ol’ Uncle Sam”)
So roll on, Columbia, roll on
CHORUS