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It is said in Iceland that the Icelandic environmental movement began in 1970, with an explosion. True story.

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Beside a volcano and the rising ash A crystal river rushing past
A crystal river flowing free Now again like it used to be
Since now the dam is out of sight Blown apart by dynamite
Blown apart by everyone In the land of the midnight sun

A hundred farmers the next day Called the cops so they could say
If you're looking for one to blame
A hundred farmers gave their names
Gave their names, said it was I Who couldn't just stand idly by
We all knew that sometimes You must commit a crime

There was a blast – a booming sound
And the dam came crashing down

In Reykjavik, voices shrill Said the dam should be bigger still
By the Laxa riverside A hundred farms would be washed aside
Legal efforts and protests failed
But they still had air behind their sails
They had air and dynamite
So they gathered round there late one night

Prosecutors tried to choose Which farmers had lit the fuse
But not a one would tell the tale And not one farmer went to jail
The dam was never built again And many still remember when
By the Laxa river they set things right
With a couple sticks of dynamite

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from All the News That's Fit to Sing, released July 1, 2014

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David Rovics Portland, Oregon

Singer/songwriter, writer, podcaster (on Spotify, Substack & Patreon), anarchist, dad, lover of life.

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