Anna Pocaro Photography
“When you sing to the lake, she sings back.”
-nan seymour
Singing is an expression of love, devotion, and respect. The lake has asked us to sing and to practice reciprocity with our presence and voice.
The songs here include community folk songs, songs given by the lake, and collaborations of poetry and music. We are reclaiming the act and singing and song as healing, radical, jubilant, community love and expression.
The water will give us songs if we listen, and will always sing back. Look for the ways the lake is singing back in your life.
These songs are available for community use. Please credit Making Waves Artist Collaborative and song authors. Spanish Translations by Laura Ruiz.
Anna Pocaro Photography
Anna Pocaro Photography
Earth My Body
(folk chant)
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earth my body
water my blood
air my breath
fire my spirit
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tierra mi cuerpo
agua mi sangre
aire mi aliento
fuego mi espíritu
The River is Flowing
(folk song)
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The river is flowing, flowing and growing
The river is flowing, down to the sea
Oh mother carry me
your child I will always be
Oh mother carry me
down to the sea
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EL rio esta fluyendo, fluyendo y creciendo
El rio fluye bajando al mar
Oh Madre cargame, tu hije siempre sere
Oh madre abrazame, hacia el mar
We Come to You Today
words and music by Sarah May
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Through the wind and the rain, we come to you today. (repeat)
With the sun’s gentle rays, we come to you today. (repeat)
With the grace of the waves, we come to you today. (repeat)
With the love that you gave, we come to you today. (repeat)
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Por el viento y la lluvia, venimos contigo hoy. (repite)
Con la gracia de las olas, venimos contigo hoy. (repite)
Con los suaves rayos del sol, venimos contigo hoy. (repite)
Por tu amor dadivoso, venimos contigo hoy. (repite)
fado for the forsaken
in remembrance of the pelicans in exile from Gunnison Island
words by nan seymour, music by Mr. Josh Craner
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bright line of pelicans
we saw you leave in a wave
and even as you left
you were stitching sea to sky.
bright ribbon of relatives
we saw you leave in a wave
and even as you went,
you were stitching sea to sky.
and even as we wept
you were stitching sea to sky
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bella diamantina de pelicanos
les vimos salir en las olas
aun cuando se iban
cosian el mar con el cielo.
brillante listón de parientes
les vimos Salir en las olas
y aun cuando se iban
cosieron al mar con la tierra
y aun cuando llorábamos
cosieron al mar con la tierra
When the Waves
English verses by Great Salt Lake Vigil Keepers, Spanish version by Jennifer Gonzalez. Sing to the tune of “When the Saints Come Marching In”.
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Oh when the waves, come waving in,
Oh when the waves come waving in—
how I want to be with that water
when the waves come waving in!
Oh when brine shrimp, come shrimping in,
Oh when brine shrimp come shrimping in—
how I want to be with that water
when brine shrimp come shrimping in!
Oh when the birds, come flocking in,
Oh when the birds come flocking in—
how I want to be with that water
when the birds come flocking in!
When phalaropes, come twirling in,
When phalaropes come twirling in—
how I want to be with that water
when phalaropes come twirling in!
When Great Salt Lake, rises again,
When Great Salt Lake rises again—
how I want to be with that water
when Great Salt Lake rises again!
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Oh vienen ya! Las olas ya! - x2
Quiero estar en el agua
Cuando las olas vengan ya!
Mira nadar,l’artemia -x2
Quiero estar en el agua
Cuando l’artemia nadará
Vuelan acá las aves ya! -x2
Quiero estar en el agua
Cuando las aves vuelvan ya!
El falaropo se gira ya! -x2
Quiero estar en el agua
Cuando empiezan a bailar!
Lago de sal, que sana ya! -x2
Quiero estar en el agua
Cuando se empieze a llenar!
We’ll Do Our Part
by Mr. Craner and 6th grade students 2022-24
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We’ll do our part— to keep the water flowin’
Do our part— for future generations
Do our part— to keep the little brine shrimp in their home
We’ll do our part— to keep the rivers flowin’
Do our part— for countless generations
Do our part— to keep the birds returning to their home
We can’t just sit back and hope that things are gonna change
It’s drying up now
We can’t keep waiting for someone else to come and fix this
We’ve gotta do something now
Are you down with the Great Salt Lake?
Do you want to see it survive?
Cause we’re down with the Great Salt Lake
We want to see it thrive!
We Give Thanks
(folk hymn) Second verse modifications by Joan Gregory
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Oh we give thanks
For this precious day
For those gathered here
And those far away
For the time we share
In love and care
Oh we give thanks
For this precious day
Oh we give thanks
For our sacred lake
For all species here
And those far away
For the time we share
In love and care
Oh we give thanks
For our sacred lake.