Listen (Eel River Song)

The Bird Sings Oral Tradition Song Library

Listen (Eel River Song)

I heard this song came to Meredith Buck as she was participating in a women’s wilderness retreat where each participant was blindfolded and then asked to cross a river, following nothing but the sound of a drummer on the other side.

The second and third layers of the song take a litte time to learn, but the base part is so simple anyone can join in right away.

Thank you to Laurence Cole for introducing me to this gem.

Composer & Copyright

Original song by Meredith Buck.

Recording

Lyrics

Part I:
Listen, listen, listen, listen

Part II:
Lay yourself down on the rocks now
Let your body down in the river
Listen for the drumming on the other side
Lose yourself in the meantime

Part III:
Listen
Let your body be your guide
Let the water decide
Lose yourself in the meantime

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9 Comments
  • Robin Bancroft-Wilson

    My dream is that when we learn songs, along with sharing the person who caught it, we also learn the name of the traditional lands where the song came through. in this case – a specific body of water on the traditional lands of the Snoqualmie and other ancestral Tulalip Indigenous people.

    • Jen Kazen

      Thank you so much Robin. We don’t always know and are truly grateful to learn. Thank you!!

  • I think it’s important to include arranger credit. This is Vanessa Richards’ arrangement. Thanks.

  • Hello:

    A singer/guitar player and I would like to sing your song for a Sunday service about Deep Listening and Really Hearing People.

    Your song nor publisher is listed on our copyright licensing website. I am writing to ask for your permission to sing the song for our Zoom Sunday service and on our website for congregants to listen.

    Other than pledges/donations to the church, there will be no fee or monies paid for the service.

    We would really appreciate it!
    Thanks,
    Caryl Tipton
    Director, Music Ministry
    Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing
    Titusville, NJ
    609-947-8288

    • Lisa G.

      Permission would need to be granted by the composer, Meredith Buck, however you can safely assume that as long as no monies are being generated specifically for performance or recording of the song, all songs in this library are safe to sing and share freely.

  • Fredereka

    This song!!! Ummmmazing!!!

  • Susan Peck

    Do you have contact information for Meredith Buck? I’m trying to find out more about this song.

  • Willow Hoffman

    Thank you!

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