The Tri-Cities’ mighty Columbia River has always been a muse for artists and poets, and there’s no question as to why. The river itself is a breathtaking sight, where nature’s grandeur meets serene tranquility as it flows through Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, cementing a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and lush vineyards. Still, with all its beauty, very few have captured its spirit as profoundly as legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie, who visited the region during the 1940s. After some grand adventures in what was a newfound paradise for Guthrie, the end result was a collection of 26 songs celebrating the mighty Columbia River’s power and the lives of those who called its basin home.
Woody Guthrie’s Early Life: Oklahoma Roots and Hardship
Woody Guthrie, born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie in 1912, hailed from Okemah, Oklahoma. His early life was marked by a stark contrast between initial prosperity and subsequent hardship. Growing up in a musical household, Guthrie developed a deep love for music from a young age. However, tragedy struck the family when their home was destroyed by fire and his sister tragically perished. These events, coupled with his mother’s deteriorating mental health due to Huntington’s disease, cast a long shadow over his childhood.
By the time Woody was 14, his mother had been committed to the Oklahoma Hospital for the insane. At the time, his father was living and working in Texas to repay debts from some previously unsuccessful real estate deals. Subsequently, Woody and his siblings were left on their own, having to rely on their eldest brother for support. With no parents at home, the 14-year-old Woody dropped out of school and survived by working odd jobs, begging for meals, and sometimes sleeping at the homes of family friends.
This period of independence fostered his resilience and sharpened his musical abilities. After buying his own harmonica and learning to play, he busked on the streets for money and food. Eventually, his father sent for him so that he could join him in Texas in 1929. By this point, Woody was reluctant to attend high school classes since he had already missed so much, and instead, he spent most of his time learning to play songs.
In 1931, Guthrie met Oklahoma-born Mary Jennings in Texas, and the two tied the knot when Guthrie was just 20 years of age. Together the couple had three children, and now facing the responsibilities of fatherhood, Guthrie joined the thousands of Okies and others who were migrating to California to look for work during the Dust Bowl period. Though it would mean leaving his family behind, in the end, Guthrie would realize his California dreams, and his experiences as a migrant worker traveling across the country by freight train and hitchhiking would profoundly shape his worldview and musical output.
A Bard of the People: Woody Guthrie’s Rise to Folklore and Political Fame
By the late 1930s, Guthrie had achieved fame along with radio partner Maxine “Lefty Loud” Crissman as a broadcast performer of commercial hillbilly music and traditional folk music. While working at a radio station owned by a New Deal Democrat, Guthrie began writing and performing protest songs that would later become known as the Dust Bowl Ballads. It would be his involvement with progressive circles that would ultimately shape his career and garner eventual success.
However, Guthrie’s outspoken views and associations initially clashed with the prevailing political climate. The outbreak of World War II and the Soviet Union’s non-aggression pact with Germany created a hostile environment for those perceived as sympathetic to communist ideals. As a result, Guthrie and his mentor, Ed Robbin, were fired from their radio jobs. This career setback forced a difficult decision: return to his family in Texas or embrace a new chapter in New York City.
Guthrie chose New York, accepting an invitation to sleep on a couch in the apartment of Will Geer, whom he had previously met in his political circle. It was here that he wrote his most famous song, “This Land is Your Land,” as a counterpoint to the more patriotic “God Bless America” and finished his previously aforementioned ballads.
Guthrie’s New York Years would prove to be a period of significant professional growth. He formed important collaborations with fellow musicians like Pete Seeger and Lead Belly, gaining wider recognition for his music. During this time, he also expanded his creative output, transitioning from singer to published writer. This upward trajectory would eventually lead him to the Pacific Northwest, where he would create the iconic Columbia River Ballads.
Woody Guthrie’s Columbia River Odyssey
In May 1941, Woody Guthrie traded the bustling metropolis of New York for the promise of a new project in Portland, Oregon. Filmmaker Gunther von Fritsch, who was directing a documentary about the Bonneville Power Administration’s monumental Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River, sought out Guthrie’s distinctive voice and songwriting talents. Initially envisioned as the film’s narrator, Guthrie’s role was eventually scaled back due to concerns about his perceived political affiliations.
Undeterred, the Department of the Interior recognized Guthrie’s potential and commissioned him to write a series of songs celebrating the Columbia River and the massive dam projects. For a month, Guthrie immersed himself in the Pacific Northwest, traveling its length and breadth. Overwhelmed by the region’s natural beauty, Guthrie famously declared it a “paradise.” Inspired and energized by this breathtaking landscape and the scale of human engineering, he embarked on an extraordinary creative burst.
Guthrie’s songwriting process was both prolific and rapid. Taking inspiration from a Columbia River history book provided by his supervisor, Ralph Kahn, he quickly penned the iconic verses to “Roll On, Columbia, Roll On.” With Kahn assigning him a driver, Elmer Buehler, to facilitate explorations of the region, including trips to the Grand Coulee and Bonneville Dams and the scenic Columbia River Gorge, Guthrie’s creative wellspring was continually replenished.
Kahn’s expectation of a song per day was easily met by Guthrie, who often repurposed existing lyrics and melodies to fit the new Northwest themes. In an astonishingly short 30-day period, he penned 26 songs, including the enduring classics “Roll On, Columbia, Roll On,” “Pastures of Plenty,” and “Grand Coulee Dam.” Despite the impressive output and the undeniable value of his work, Guthrie received a modest payment of $266.66.
To preserve these newly created songs, Guthrie recorded a dozen or more on acetate discs in a basement studio at the BPA building. Later, in New York, a half-dozen tracks were professionally recorded for the documentary’s soundtrack. While the film, titled “The Columbia,” wouldn’t be completed until 1949, Guthrie’s music found its way onto commercial albums and songbooks. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the original collection was lost over time. However, in 1987, a dedicated effort recovered the lyrics to all twenty-six songs and recordings for seventeen, ensuring that this vital piece of American musical history would not be forgotten.
Songs of the People: Guthrie’s Columbia River Ballads are a Reflection of Early Times in the West
Woody Guthrie was more than just a singer-songwriter; he was a chronicler of the American experience. His music, a raw and honest reflection of the times, resonated deeply with people from all walks of life. From the Dust Bowl ballads that captured the despair of millions to the optimistic spirit of the Columbia River songs, Guthrie’s work served as a powerful soundtrack to a nation in flux.
Today, as we stand on the banks of the Columbia, we can hear the echoes of Guthrie’s music in the wind. His legacy is a reminder of the importance of preserving our history and celebrating the people who shape our world. The Tri-Cities region is fortunate to be part of this enduring story, a place where the spirit of Woody Guthrie continues to inspire and resonate.
