SEQUOIA SEMPERVIRENS
(written by Franklin "Herm" Fitz in 1964)
Oh, it was many years ago that those seeds began to sprout
Well, the people held in trust, and presumed it would be saved
Now highways come and go and will soon grow out of date
Prairie Creek stood proud and fair, and adjacent to the beach,
Did the people ever give them the right to desecrate,
Well, the redwood trees went down, and will never be rebuilt,
Written May 28, 1964
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
And upon the rocky coast redwood trees grew all about
Till the highway engineers said, Those trees we've got to clear,
It was sad when those great trees went down.
Oh, it was sad, oh, it was sad
It was sad when those great trees went down, they were victims of the
Chainsaw, bulldozer, and highway engineer,
It was sad when those great trees went down.
In those dedicated groves, thought they 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.
Oh, it was sad...
And the builders of those 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.
Oh, it was sad...
'Til the two were split apart by a freeway that did reach,
And the coastline Bluffs of Gold lost their pristine state of old,
It was sad when those great trees went down.
Oh, it was sad...
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 the hands of the engineers.
Oh, it was sad...
And the engineers move on, ne'er quite feeling any guilt,
To develop and "progress", and invade all wilderness,
'Til the world ends up in one god-awful mess!
Oh, it was sad...