The River Won't Let Him Leave

indie folk-rock, chamber folk, sea shanty

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V6-MINI

[Intro – 6/8 acoustic guitar, mournful fiddle, accordion, ship bells]

[Verse 1 – Intimate, theatrical baritone]
Back when Portland's docks were wood,
And sailors drank more than they should,
I drank beneath the lantern light
On Couch Street on a Friday night.

A sailor with a silver tooth
Offered me a glass of proof.
I raised my drink, the room went black,
And Portland faded at my back.

[Verse 2 – Upright bass, brushed snare]
I woke beneath a foreign flag,
My head a bell, my tongue a rag.
The captain smiled a ghastly grin,
Said, "Boy, your voyage now begins!"

We sailed where two great rivers meet,
The Oregon hills in retreat.
I watched the fir-clad shore withdraw
Like fading teeth in a monster's jaw.

[Pre-Chorus – Strings swell]
Oh, Mother, keep the kettle warm,
And Father, mind the coming storm.
For I've been sold for thirty crowns,
And carried from my river town.

[Chorus – Full folk-rock ensemble, soaring harmonies]
Oh, Portland, Portland, far away,
Where the Willamette meets the gray,
I'd trade the pearls of all the seas
For one more rain among your trees.

Oh, Portland, Portland, sweet and cold,
No eastern king with streets of gold
Could buy the mud beneath my feet
Or rain-wet stones of your crooked streets.

[Instrumental – Fiddle and accordion duet, mandolin]

[Verse 3 – Playful, faster, bouzouki and tin whistle]
In Yokohama I was robbed,
In Singapore I wept and sobbed.
In Canton Town I learned to swear
In seven tongues and underwear.

A girl in Java kissed my cheek
And begged me stay another week,
But all I heard beneath her song
Was Portland rain the whole night long.

[Verse 4 – Dark cello, storm percussion]
Then off Cape Horn the heavens broke,
The sea rose black, the rigging spoke.
Three men were swallowed by the foam,
Who'd never see their mothers' homes.

I held the mast against the swell,
And cursed the captain straight to hell.
Through howling winds I sang alone
Of muddy streets and going home.

[Shanty – A cappella male work-song, boots begin stomping]

[Leader]
Oh, what do you do with a river-born lad?
[Crew]
HAUL AWAY! HAUL AWAY!
[Leader]
When the captain's a devil and the weather's gone mad?
[Crew]
HAUL AWAY FOR THE BREAK OF DAY!

[Leader]
You take him from Portland and put him to sea!
[Crew]
HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE!
[Leader]
But his heart stays ashore by the old willow tree!
[Crew]
AND THE RIVER WON'T LET HIM LEAVE!

[Instrumental – Concertina enters, stomping, handclaps]

[Leader]
There's silver in China and spices in Spain!
[Crew]
HAUL AWAY! HAUL AWAY!
[Leader]
But none of it smells like an Oregon rain!
[Crew]
HAUL AWAY FOR THE BREAK OF DAY!

[Leader]
There's gold in Australia and pearls in the deep!
[Crew]
HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE!
[Leader]
But what's all the gold to a man who can't sleep?
[Crew]
WHEN THE RIVER WON'T LET HIM LEAVE!

[Instrumental – Wild fiddle solo, pounding drums]

[Leader – Shouting]
Pull on the ropes till your fingers are bone!
[Crew]
HAUL AWAY! HAUL AWAY!
[Leader]
And curse every captain that calls you his own!
[Crew]
HAUL AWAY FOR THE BREAK OF DAY!

[Leader]
May the Columbia carry us through!
[Crew]
HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE!
[Leader]
And the western rain wash away all we knew!
[Crew]
AND THE RIVER SHALL SET US FREE!

[Full Crew – Accelerating, layered harmonies]
Haul away, haul away!
We'll see the western shore someday!
Heave, boys, heave, boys, heave!
And the river shall set us free!

Haul away, haul away!
Through the thunder and the spray!
Heave, boys, heave, boys, heave!
AND THE RIVER SHALL SET US FREE!

[Instrumental – Extended fiddle, accordion, banjo, pounding percussion; sudden silence]

[Verse 5 – Slow, sparse guitar and cello]
In Liverpool I jumped the ship,
With seven coins and a busted lip.
I crossed the continent by rail,
With salt still crusted in my nails.

And twenty years had come and gone
Since I had seen an Oregon dawn.
The city that I'd left behind
Was neither hers nor wholly mine.

[Final Chorus – Triumphant but bittersweet, full ensemble]
Oh, Portland, Portland, here I stand,
A stranger in my native land.
I'd crossed the oceans wide and deep
To find the streets that knew my feet.

Oh, Portland, Portland, sweet and cold,
Your muddy streets are paved with gold.
Your wooden docks are iron and stone,
But still the river calls me home.

[Bridge – Half-time waltz, pump organ, cello]
I walked along the waterfront,
Where once the sailors' taverns stood.
I thought I'd find the boy I'd been,
But found a stranger in his skin.

[Outro – Accordion lament, fingerpicked guitar]
So pour one out for river sons,
For all the lost and wandering ones,
Who dream of firs and western skies
With foreign stars above their eyes.

[Soft final refrain – Almost a cappella]
Oh, Portland, Portland, let me stay,
And let the river wash away
The years the rolling ocean stole...

And take this weary sailor home.

[End – Solitary fiddle, three ship bells, fading rain]

4914/7500

[Intro – 6/8 acoustic guitar, mournful fiddle, accordion, ship bells] [Verse 1 – Intimate, theatrical baritone] Back when Portland's docks were wood, And sailors drank more than they should, I drank beneath the lantern light On Couch Street on a Friday night. A sailor with a silver tooth Offered me a glass of proof. I raised my drink, the room went black, And Portland faded at my back. [Verse 2 – Upright bass, brushed snare] I woke beneath a foreign flag, My head a bell, my tongue a rag. The captain smiled a ghastly grin, Said, "Boy, your voyage now begins!" We sailed where two great rivers meet, The Oregon hills in retreat. I watched the fir-clad shore withdraw Like fading teeth in a monster's jaw. [Pre-Chorus – Strings swell] Oh, Mother, keep the kettle warm, And Father, mind the coming storm. For I've been sold for thirty crowns, And carried from my river town. [Chorus – Full folk-rock ensemble, soaring harmonies] Oh, Portland, Portland, far away, Where the Willamette meets the gray, I'd trade the pearls of all the seas For one more rain among your trees. Oh, Portland, Portland, sweet and cold, No eastern king with streets of gold Could buy the mud beneath my feet Or rain-wet stones of your crooked streets. [Instrumental – Fiddle and accordion duet, mandolin] [Verse 3 – Playful, faster, bouzouki and tin whistle] In Yokohama I was robbed, In Singapore I wept and sobbed. In Canton Town I learned to swear In seven tongues and underwear. A girl in Java kissed my cheek And begged me stay another week, But all I heard beneath her song Was Portland rain the whole night long. [Verse 4 – Dark cello, storm percussion] Then off Cape Horn the heavens broke, The sea rose black, the rigging spoke. Three men were swallowed by the foam, Who'd never see their mothers' homes. I held the mast against the swell, And cursed the captain straight to hell. Through howling winds I sang alone Of muddy streets and going home. [Shanty – A cappella male work-song, boots begin stomping] [Leader] Oh, what do you do with a river-born lad? [Crew] HAUL AWAY! HAUL AWAY! [Leader] When the captain's a devil and the weather's gone mad? [Crew] HAUL AWAY FOR THE BREAK OF DAY! [Leader] You take him from Portland and put him to sea! [Crew] HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE! [Leader] But his heart stays ashore by the old willow tree! [Crew] AND THE RIVER WON'T LET HIM LEAVE! [Instrumental – Concertina enters, stomping, handclaps] [Leader] There's silver in China and spices in Spain! [Crew] HAUL AWAY! HAUL AWAY! [Leader] But none of it smells like an Oregon rain! [Crew] HAUL AWAY FOR THE BREAK OF DAY! [Leader] There's gold in Australia and pearls in the deep! [Crew] HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE! [Leader] But what's all the gold to a man who can't sleep? [Crew] WHEN THE RIVER WON'T LET HIM LEAVE! [Instrumental – Wild fiddle solo, pounding drums] [Leader – Shouting] Pull on the ropes till your fingers are bone! [Crew] HAUL AWAY! HAUL AWAY! [Leader] And curse every captain that calls you his own! [Crew] HAUL AWAY FOR THE BREAK OF DAY! [Leader] May the Columbia carry us through! [Crew] HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE, BOYS, HEAVE! [Leader] And the western rain wash away all we knew! [Crew] AND THE RIVER SHALL SET US FREE! [Full Crew – Accelerating, layered harmonies] Haul away, haul away! We'll see the western shore someday! Heave, boys, heave, boys, heave! And the river shall set us free! Haul away, haul away! Through the thunder and the spray! Heave, boys, heave, boys, heave! AND THE RIVER SHALL SET US FREE! [Instrumental – Extended fiddle, accordion, banjo, pounding percussion; sudden silence] [Verse 5 – Slow, sparse guitar and cello] In Liverpool I jumped the ship, With seven coins and a busted lip. I crossed the continent by rail, With salt still crusted in my nails. And twenty years had come and gone Since I had seen an Oregon dawn. The city that I'd left behind Was neither hers nor wholly mine. [Final Chorus – Triumphant but bittersweet, full ensemble] Oh, Portland, Portland, here I stand, A stranger in my native land. I'd crossed the oceans wide and deep To find the streets that knew my feet. Oh, Portland, Portland, sweet and cold, Your muddy streets are paved with gold. Your wooden docks are iron and stone, But still the river calls me home. [Bridge – Half-time waltz, pump organ, cello] I walked along the waterfront, Where once the sailors' taverns stood. I thought I'd find the boy I'd been, But found a stranger in his skin. [Outro – Accordion lament, fingerpicked guitar] So pour one out for river sons, For all the lost and wandering ones, Who dream of firs and western skies With foreign stars above their eyes. [Soft final refrain – Almost a cappella] Oh, Portland, Portland, let me stay, And let the river wash away The years the rolling ocean stole... And take this weary sailor home. [End – Solitary fiddle, three ship bells, fading rain]

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