Roll On, Columbia, Roll On
"Roll On Columbia" | |
---|---|
Song by Woody Guthrie | |
Written | 1941 |
Songwriter(s) | Woody Guthrie |
Composer(s) | based on "Goodnight, Irene" |
Lyricist(s) | Woody Guthrie |
"Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" is an American folk song written in 1941 by American folk singer Woody Guthrie,[1] who popularized the song through his own recording of it. The song glamorized the harnessing of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. The 11 hydroelectric dams built on the American stretch of the Columbia helped farms and industry, but their construction also permanently altered the character of the river.
The song became famous as an anthem about American public works projects arising out of the New Deal in the Great Depression. In 1987, it was adopted as the official folk song of the State of Washington.[2]
History
"Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" was part of the
As part of the effort, Guthrie, who was from Oklahoma and knew little about the Pacific Northwest, was driven all around Washington and Oregon to gain inspiration from the sites of the Columbia and its tributaries. Guthrie was glad he was able to tour and get a feel for the area, commenting that "these Pacific Northwest songs and ballads have all got these personal feelings for me because I was there on these very spots and very grounds before."
Of the Columbia River Ballads "Roll on, Columbia", which he set to a modified version of
Historical and geographical content
The chorus of "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" declares that the Columbia River is "turning the darkness to dawn". This refers to the electricity generated by the New Deal hydropower projects that brought electricity to homes in rural areas.
The first verse describes the path of the Columbia River from the
.In some later versions, after the first two verses, a verse was inserted describing how
The next four verses describe the late 19th century
The final three verses describe the construction of two Columbia River dams:
Cultural references
The Emerald City Supporters, a fan group of the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC, sing the chorus of "Roll On, Columbia" during home matches at the 12th minute, in honor of the team's first goal in MLS, scored by Colombian forward Fredy Montero in their inaugural match against New York Red Bulls on March 19, 2009.[6][7]
The Columbians Drum and Bugle Corps have the audience yell the phrase, "Roll On," during a moment of musical silence on the field to energize the members.
References
- ^ "Roll on Columbia: Woody Guthrie & the Bonneville Power Administration". University of Oregon. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "State Symbols". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ "Washington State Legislature Official Website - State Symbols". Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ^ "Renewable Energy Sources: A Consumer's Guide". U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
- ^ "Grand Coulee Dam Dimensions". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ "Song List". Emerald City Supporters. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ Gaschk, Matt (March 22, 2010). "A Different Point Of View". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
External links
- Documentary Roll On Columbia: Woody Guthrie and the Bonneville Power Administration- University of Oregon