The Ballad of Seneca Lake

The Ballad of Seneca Lake

by Edith O. McCrea

 

Don’t store your gas in the old salt mine,

Crack our land on the old fault line.

Methane in our water and our local wine

Has such a bitter taste, –

God, what an awful waste.

 

Chained ourselves to the salt mine fence,

Went to jail for this grave offense.

Fifteen days at the State’s expense

For standing hand in hand

And fighting for our land.

 

Chorus #1:      Seneca Lake it is clear and clean,

The skies are blue and the hills are green,

Prettiest place that you’ve ever seen

And we wanna keep it that way, –

That’s what the children say.

 

Industry wants to come in and drill,

Poison our water and make us ill.

Toxic air and treeless hills

Are what we have in store

If we don’t bar the door.

 

Industry wants to come in and frack;

So far, we’ve managed to hold them back.

Storing gas here is a sneak attack,

But we won’t let them in;

We’ll fight until we win.

 

Chorus #2:      The Finger Lakes they are clear and clean,

The skies are blue and the hills are green,

Prettiest place that you’ve ever seen,

And we wanna keep it that way, –

That’s what the children say.

 

(Instrumental Break)

 

Pennsylvania, she said “Yes,”

Got herself in an awful mess,

Our sister State’s in sore distress

From listening to their lies, –

She’s opened up our eyes.

 

Farms and dairies, food and wine,

Livelihoods are on the line.

The future of your kids, and mine

Is deep inside this land,

So join us in our stand.

 

Chorus #3:      New York State, it is free and proud,

Our heart is strong, and our voice is loud,

And here we stand with our back unbowed,

And we’re gonna keep it that way, –

Forever and a day, –

‘Cause that’s what the children say.