Digital Tradition Mirror

Sequoia Sempervirens

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

(alternate:)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Sequoia Sempervirens
(Franklin Fitz)

Oh, it was many years ago that these seeds began to sprout
And along the foggy coast, redwood trees grew all about
Then the highway engineer said, "These trees we've got to clear."
It was sad when those great trees went down.

   Oh, it was sad, so sad
   It was sad when those great trees went down
   At the mercy of the chain saw, bulldozer and highway engineer
   It was sad when those great trees went down

Well, the people held in trust and presumed it would be saved
In those dedicated groves, thought it never would be paved
But a breach of trust and taste laid those ancient trees to waste
It was sad when those great trees went down.

Now, highways come and go, and will soon grow out of date
And the builders of these roads, 'tis quite plain could relocate
But giant redwood trees are not moved with such great ease
It was sad when those great trees went down.

Did the people ever give it to them the right to desecrate
In the name of building roads, all the beauty of the state?
This usurped authority pays little heed to you and me
Our environment lies in hands of engineers

Prairie Creek stood proud and fair, adjacent to the beach
"till the two were split apart by the freeway that did reach
And the Coastline Bluffs of Gold lost that pristine state of old
It was sad when that wild coast was lost

Well, the redwood trees went down and will never be rebuilt
And the engineers move on, ne'er quite feeling any guilt
To develop and "progress" to invade all wilderness
It was sad when those great trees went down.

Written by Franklin Fitz in 1964
play.exe FALLRAIN
AB

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