Grand Coulee Dam
Guthrie Woody Lyrics

Well, the world has seven wonders, the travelers always tell
The world is filled with amazing sites but there is one wonder in Uncle Sam's land that surpasses them all.

Some gardens and some towers, I guess you know them well
There are famous landmarks and monuments that people typically associate with wonder and amazement.

But the greatest wonder is in Uncle Sam's fair land
Despite all the other wonders around the world, this particular one stands out as the greatest of them all.

It's that King Columbia River and the big Grand Coulee Dam
The Grand Coulee Dam is the true wonder of Uncle Sam's land - it is an engineering marvel that is hard to comprehend.

She heads up the Canadian Rockies where the rippling waters glide
The Columbia River begins its journey in the stunning landscape of the Canadian Rockies where it flows gently.

Comes a-rumbling down the canyon to meet that salty tide
As the river flows towards the ocean, it picks up speed and becomes an unstoppable force that rumbles and crashes through the canyon.

Of the wide Pacific Ocean where the sun sets in the west
At the end of its journey, the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean where the sun sets in the west.

And the big Grand Coulee country in the land I love the best
The Grand Coulee Dam is located in the country that Woody Guthrie loves the most, and he is proud of it.

In the misty crystal glitter of that wild and windward spray
Despite the beauty of the river, it has claimed many lives in treacherous conditions, with wind and mist adding to the challenge.

Men have fought the pounding waters and met a watery grave
Despite man's efforts to harness the power of the river, many have lost their lives in that very struggle.

Well, she tore their boats to splinters but she gave men dreams to dream
The river is a powerful force that can destroy anything in its path, but it also gives people hope and inspires them to dream of achieving the impossible.

Of the day the Coulee Dam would cross that wild and wasted stream
The dream was for the Coulee Dam to be built across the river, taming it and using its power to create a better world.

Uncle Sam took up the challenge in the year of Thirty three
In 1933, the US Government took the challenge of building the Grand Coulee Dam, which was an ambitious and risky undertaking.

For the farmer and the factory and all of you and me
The purpose behind building the dam was to improve the lives of the ordinary people who depended on agriculture and industry for their livelihoods.

He said, "Roll along Columbia. You can ramble to the sea
Uncle Sam gave the go-ahead for the dam to be built, but he also recognized the importance of the river's natural flow and allowed it to continue its journey to the sea.

But river while you're ramblin' you can do some work for me"
At the same time, the river's flow was to be harnessed and used for the benefit of society, as it flowed through the dam and generated hydroelectric power.

Now in Washington and Oregon you hear the factories hum
As a result of the dam's construction, industry has flourished in the adjoining states of Washington and Oregon, and the economy has grown.

Making chrome and making manganese and light aluminum
The factories produce a variety of metals and materials that are used in many different industries.

And there roars a mighty furnace now to fight for Uncle Sam
The dam's hydroelectric power has enabled the creation of a mighty furnace that fights for the nation's interests.

Spawned upon the King Columbia by the big Grand Coulee Dam
The power generated by the dam has been a catalyst for growth and development throughout the region, bringing economic prosperity to the people.