Attached is a free MP3 written by Rick Byers during the fight to save the Stanislaus river. He's a wonderful song writer and boatman par-excellence, and his (and his wonderfully talented family's) music can be purchased at: rickbyars.com. This is a love song and farewell to the Stanny.


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)