Chinook was one of my first efforts at putting down interesting chords into a song. Dang it turned out nice with Jeff putting the gliss on it and Tammy Frost putting the heart felt vocals on. I was trying to convey that sense of loss and resignation that you get when you hear about the destructive nature of man. The approaching consequences of deforestation, all forms of pollution, global warming and species extinction. Here in the great Pacific Northwest, we care a lot about Salmon. I saw a turn of the century photograph in a museum years ago of men literally walking across the backs of thousands of Chinook (king) salmon trying to get upstream at the mouth of Oregon’s Rogue River to spawn. There were more salmon than there was water in the river!
By now most people realize what’s at stake but they, like me, don’t know what to do about it other than change our individual behavior. An estimated 100 million tons of plastic and garbage is floating around in Earth’s oceans. The largest ‘Gyre’ in the Pacific Ocean is causing all kinds of grief and death to birds and aquatic life. I have faith in humanity and the younger generation. I don’t think they’re going to put up with this planet raping much longer. Whether we collectively vote out the politicians who appear to be nothing more than corporate shills or a revolution gives back the power to the people, something big is going to happen to help humanity create a sustainable relationship with the natural world. That’s why the end of this song is so upbeat! Keep the faith baby and make sure to vote.