“And they were bound to the river.
Flowing wild, flowing free, may she ever be:
The Wild and Scenic St. Croix.”

– Bound by the River, © Martha E. Harding

Thank you to Marty Harding and Gary Noren, as well as some talented friends, for this video featuring an original choral piece about the St. Croix’s connections to people, and stunning photographs of the river.

The song is sung by the River Singers Chorus, with Dan Chouinard on piano.

Marty started composing the music and lyrics and Gary spent his days photographing the river’s many moods while they were artists-in-residence at Pine Needles, the St. Croix Watershed Research Station’s historic cabin in Marine on St. Croix in July 2016.

That year was the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service, which manages the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The song premiered at an event that October at Marine’s village hall.

Marty and Gary say they created this new recording and video to celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

In its lyrics, Bound by the River traces the history of the St. Croix from its creation after the last Ice Age, to today’s difficult efforts to keep it healthy and wild. “It hasn’t been so easy to find a common ground / To share the river’s riches, leave enough to go around,” it goes.

The pair have been deeply involved in St. Croix River stewardship for many years, as well as other community service in the region. (They have also been unfailing supporters of St. Croix 360, which I appreciate, and have been featured on here more than once.)

Gary was recently the St. Croix River Association’s board chair.

“Marty and Gary have been passionate protectors of the river for a long time, and we’re so grateful they created this beautiful video that captures the river’s magic in music and photos,” said Deb Ryun, executive director of the St. Croix River Association.

Lyrics:

Bound to the River
A Tribute to the Wild and Scenic St. Croix*
Lyrics and Music by Martha E. Harding

From the mighty glaciers, the River Croix was born,
With seven tributaries; countless streams adorn.
Ten thousand years would follow, but soon someone would stand
And gaze across the valley and find a place to call home.

Chorus: And they were bound to the river.
Flowing wild, flowing free, may she ever be:
The Wild and Scenic St. Croix.

Ancient woodland people would come to hunt her deer;
Oneota followed, farmed land so close to here.
Dakota and Ojibwe both claimed the River Croix;
Had everything they needed and found a place to call home.

Chorus: And they were bound to the river.
Flowing wild, flowing free, may she ever be:
The Wild and Scenic St. Croix.

Trappers came for beaver, then farmers plowed the fields,
Loggers felled the white pine; St. Croix’s abundant yields.
Everyone was trying, with everything they knew
To build a better future and find a place to call home.

Chorus: And they were bound to the river.
Flowing wild, flowing free, may she ever be:
The Wild and Scenic St. Croix.

It hasn’t been so easy to find a common ground,
To share the river’s riches, leave enough to go around.
Now we are the people who love the River Croix;
Find peace and recreation, solitude and joy.

Chorus: And they were bound to the river.
Flowing wild, flowing free, may she ever be:
The Wild and Scenic St. Croix.

Reprise: And it will take our commitment
to protect and restore all that we adore
about the Wild and Scenic St. Croix.

*In honor of the 100^th Anniversary of the National Park Service and the 50^th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Copyright: Martha E. Harding, 2016

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