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Goddess Of The River

by Sarah De Vallière

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about

"Goddess Of The River" is a song that tells the story of the Baiji, a river dolphin native to the Chinese Yangtze River that has most likely been extinct since 2004. Affectionately called the "Goddess of the Yangtze" and regarded as a guardian deity of the local fisherman, the Baiji is thought to be the first dolphin species in the world to go extinct due to human impact. De Vallière, tapping into the essence of this divine protector, crafted the song from the imagined perspective of the Baiji, serving as a beacon of hope and reason as she gazes upon her imperiled home.

While the Baiji was presumably extinct by the time of its completion, The Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric facility in the world, has made and continues to make a devastating impact on not only the wildlife of the Yangtze River but also the hundreds of towns and villages in its vicinity. "Goddess of the River'' is meant to serve as a powerful commentary on the environmental and cultural impact of large-scale human interventions, such as the Three Gorges Dam, urging listeners to recognize the consequences of their actions and to embrace the possibility of positive change, even in the face of seemingly irreversible damage.

"Goddess of the River" is the second of a series of songs De Vallière has written since 2017 for extinct species. Two of these songs found their place on her newest album, "The Healing" (June 2024). In this concept album exploring themes of grief, loss, and eventual healing, "Goddess of the River" emerges as the opening track, resonating with the album's overarching motifs while making the urgent call for stewardship of our natural world.

lyrics

My home was a river
born of an ancient glacier
waning into hallowed water
the lifeblood of this land
I swam through its currents
fed by scores of tributaries
between rocky sanctuaries
temples nested in their hands


(instrumental)


I was already gone
when that most unholy mess
left a million dispossessed
and their history washed away
and I cannot forget
all my sisters and my brothers
threatened by these changing waters
are the price that will be paid

but it’s never too late to fail
and it’s never too late to mend
I might be damned
but it’s never too late

It’s never too late to fail
and it’s never too late to mend
They might be damned
but it’s never too late

(instrumental)

Oh it’s never too late to fail
and it’s never too late to mend
We might be damned
but it’s never too late

credits

released April 2, 2024
Music/Lyrics: Sarah De Vallière (Sugarbird Music / ASCAP)
Piano+Vocal: Sarah De Vallière
Violin: Chris Murphy

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Sarah De Vallière Rochester, New York

A classical background coupled with a love for folk and roots music has led Sarah to writing songs that are daring yet familiar. Her lyrics are all at once raw, smart and intimate, wrapped in expressive melodies and driven by adventurous chord changes. Her songs dare question aloud spirituality, morality, relationships, societal standards, and where the line lies between right and wrong. ... more

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