G . . . . C . . . . . D. . . . . . . . . . . .G
10,000 eggs, all together and in motion
. . . . . . C . . . . . .D . . . . . . . . . . . G
10,000 eggs, all dreaming of the ocean
G . . . . . . . . . .Am . . . . . . . . .C . . . . . . . . . G
Little eggs all covered up by silt and little stones
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Am . . . . . . . . . . . . C . . . .G
Buried by their mother’s tail, then left all alone
D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C
Weeks go by underneath, they’re eating on their yolks
D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C
Growing and a bouncing, their shell is finally broke
G . . . . . . . . . .Am . . C . . . . . . . . . . G
Little balls of jelly, a-looking awful gruesome
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Am . . . .C . . . . . . . . . . . .G
Bones and eyes and livers, a-shining right on through ’em
D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C
Up they swim, to the light, a breaking through their border
D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C
Up they swim, to the blue, sparkling river water
G
A7 . . . . . . . . C
Ride salmon ride
. . . . .D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G
Over waves and through the water
A7 . . . . . . . . C
Ride salmon ride
. . . . . . D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G
Feeling proud and growing stronger
D G
10,000 eggs, all together and in motion
Now 9,000 fish, are dreaming of the ocean
Little fish, feeding first on water through their gills
Diatoms and plankton, until their teeth can kill
Summer’s warmth brings insects, and crustaceans to live on
In their pool, all summer long, growing up and getting strong
Then, one crisp Autumn day, they hear the river calling
From their pool, out they swim, to the white water rushing
Heads pointed up the stream, they ride the current down
Flowing with the river, through colored country grounds
Ride salmon ride
Over waves and through the water
Ride salmon ride
Feeling proud and growing stronger
10,000 eggs, all together and in motion
Now 7,000 fish, are dreaming of the ocean
By mighty trees of oak, past walnut, fir and pine
Through green-brown fields of fall, by lazy cattle grazing
Over stones great and small, tumbled smooth in water’s fun
Around the curving bends, to the glowing, setting sun
Down the Columbia, a raging, roaring thrill
Spilling and a-crashing, through man’s dams and God’s hills
To the salty, sweet spray of the great rolling sea
The salmon keep on swimming, today and in history
Ride salmon ride
Over waves and through the water
Ride salmon ride
Feeling proud and growing stronger
10,000 eggs, all together and in motion
Now 5,000 fish, are swimming in the ocean
Tasting the salty brine, with its shrimp a Christmas feast
Some will grow big and fat, some will feed ocean beasts
Slowly, the current’s pull, moves them back and forth
Away from home they’ll stray, with their shrimp headed north
Muscles tensing, bodies twisting, they jump and they dive
Up the Cape of Flaherty, on to Vancouver’s Isle
Driving to Berkley Sound, and on to Kyoquot
Round Triangle Island, till Milbarke Sound they spot
Ride salmon ride
Over waves and through the water
Ride salmon ride
Feeling proud and growing stronger
10,000 eggs, all together and in motion
Now 3,000 fish, are swimming in the ocean
Then, eggs begin to form, and sperm begins to seep
No more food, no more growth, they stop their northward creep
They hear their mother’s call, and homeward south they turn
Down the coast, down the sea, on stored-up fat they burn
Over 6,000 miles of winter’s stormy seas
Flowing with the current, riding with the breeze
Ancient ghosts of salmon will guide them on their way
Dreams of streams and rivers, they’re going home today
Ride salmon ride
Over waves and through the water
Ride salmon ride
Feeling proud and growing stronger
10,000 eggs, all together and in motion
Now 1000 fish, are leaving the ocean
Searching for Columbia, to end six years of roaming
Soon to taste fresh water, soon to return home
Up the river they’ll fight, jumping rocks and climbing falls
Up the river they’ll swim, over dry spots they’ll crawl
Sex is a calling them home, and for sex they’ll thrust on
To reach that same old stream, and pool where they’re from
They use up all their strength, and all their fighting urge
They call on every muscle, as violently they surge
Ride salmon ride
Over waves and through the water
Ride salmon ride
Feeling proud and growing stronger
(slow pace and lower volume)
Now, two old weary fish, return again to spawn
Now, two old weary fish, release their sex at dawn
(back up)
And, 10,000 eggs, are together and in motion
And, 10,000 eggs, are dreaming of the ocean
James K. Richardson