We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

When This Fertile Valley Was Stolen

from Rebel Songs by David Rovics

/

about

Portland lies in the Willamette River valley in western Oregon. The whole thing was taken away from the Clackamas, Cowlitz and other peoples who lived here, and given away to white settlers from the east, called "pioneers." The injuries caused by this wholesale theft are ongoing.

lyrics

When This Fertile Valley Was Stolen

When this fertile valley was stolen, it was a process assisted
By an epidemic that wiped off the Earth most any who might have resisted
The land was parceled and given away to any brave pioneer
Who was white enough to own property around here

When this fertile valley was stolen, it sealed so many a fate
Who'd no longer live by a trading post, but in a stratified settler state
With a white landed gentry created by colonial decree
We're not talking about the Bible, but a few generations of history

When this fertile valley was stolen, it was easy to foresee
That so many, many years later, there'd still be a white majority
It was engineered from the day the Exclusion Laws were made
Any pretense of inclusion since has been a sick charade

When this fertile valley was stolen, the pioneers were given their farms
Which were defended from the displaced by force of arms
And by dint of reason, as false as any that could be
Enforced by laws and customs called white supremacy

When this fertile valley was stolen, a process was set forth
To make another bastion of capitalism to the west and north
Of freshly conquered California, Arizona and the rest
Of the disease and theft and slaughter, when the pioneers went west

When this fertile valley was stolen

credits

from Rebel Songs, released March 8, 2021

license

tags

about

David Rovics image

David Rovics Portland, Oregon

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

shows

contact / help

Contact David Rovics

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

David Rovics recommends:

If you like David Rovics, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now