We’re the 17 Paddlers

By Karen Jarrell

(with apologies to Stewball the Racehorse)

The river was ripping

And bright was the sun

When we launched from the put-in

And prepared for the fun

We laugh when its raining (chorus)

We sing when its grey

We’re the 17 paddlers

On the Grand Ronde today

Red Rock take the left channel

Big waves at Blind Fall

The seventeen paddled

With no dumps at all

Chorus

I’m sure we are all skillful

But we are not through yet

So please do not blame me

If you have a wreck

Chorus

The sky it turned greyer

The wind it grew damp

The rafters were freezing

When we finally reached camp

Don always says it

And you know that it’s true

The weather will do what

The weather will do

We all wanted sun but

Got two days of rain

We all hate Don’s saying

But won’t be profane

Kate and Alan who paddled

With vigor and might

Still got all their gear soaked

While sleeping that night

Bruce is the tall guy

In the long white canoe

Who zips down the river

And reads when he’s through

He’s handy when tying

The rain tarps each time

He reaches tall branches

So we don’t have to climb

Joan is a paddler

Of great style and grace

She also loves Bob

And says so to his face

Eric and Joann

They really are fine

They never drink water

They always drink wine

Eric’s the rower

Joann a great cook

They always find flowers

And look them up in their book

Roy is a rower

And Sally sings songs

She dances with Eric's kid

And makes me dance along

Young Eric goes solo

Guarding his kid all day

He must not trust rafters

But he doesn’t say

Charlie and Bob they

Make sure the coffee is made

They’re first up each morning

And they aren’t even paid

Don is our leader

He shows us the way

Sometimes this works out

For the rest we won’t say.

Pat and Eileen are champions

They’re great folks you see

They made a hot shower

And shared it with me

The raft with two motors

Kit and Charlie together

Speed along down the river

And keep going forever

Karen loves nature

And poetry too

And if you ask her to sing

She will give you a tune

We laugh when it’s raining (chorus)

We sing when it’s grey

We bathe when there’s sunshine

We just got some today

We may be sarcastic

But we’re never rude

We help one another

And bring too much food

We dance on the water

We sing when it’s black

We flinch when the groover

Slaps us on the back

We laugh when it’s raining

We sing when it’s grey

We the 17 paddlers

On the Grand Ronde today

The poetry’s rotten

The rhyme mostly wrong

But I hope you have enjoyed

This ridiculous song