Stanislaus River
C G
It starts in the mountains as just a small trickle,
C G
A few drops of fresh melted snow
C G
It jumps o’er the boulders laughing and playing,
C G C
as it heads for the valley below
Chorus:
F C
The Stanislaus River, so wild and so free
G C
I hope for all time that you will be
F C
A free flowing river that man cannot end
G C
I’ll remember you always my friend
C G C G
As it flows onward, it grows rather quickly, it becomes a clear running stream
C G C G C
Fish start to grow there, deer come to water, yes it is everyman’s dream
Chorus
C G
Down in the foothills, it’s become a big river,
C G
it flows thru the canyon it made
C G
Thousands enjoy it as they flow with its beauty,
C G C
they hope that it can be saved
Chorus
C G
Progress is on us, the river’s in danger,
C G
the men want to stop her great flow
C G
We’ve got to stop them, no matter what it takes us,
C G C
Or else they’ll be nothing to show…
Chorus
By Rick Byars
(...I've added my own little postscript verse:
Deep down and silent, the river is patient,
In her dark and watery grave.
In some far-off future, our children will frolick
By a fig-tree, a rope-swing, a cave.
chorus.
Jeffe)