Dana Lyons, Washington’s own Pete Seeger, has released a new album, “Cracks in the Heartland.” Since 1985 when Dana’s song “Our State is a Dumpsite” was proposed in the Washington state legislature as the official state song, to the 1996 release of the comedic ballad, “Cows With Guns”, Dana has been writing and singing songs that celebrate the natural world and inspire environmental activism. He has toured 48 states, Australia, Ireland, England, New Zealand, Canada, Kazahkstan, Patagonia and Siberia promoting environmental and social justice causes.
“Cracks in the Heartland,” an album long in the making, continues Dana’s support of environmentalists, this time celebrating rural people of the prairie fighting and winning battles against large energy projects. Like many of his songs, they are based on real people and events, and prove that we have more in common than what divides us. As Dana writes, “They are stories that prove that unlikely alliances of very conservative and very progressive people can come together on issues they agree on, work together with a sense of humor, and win.”
It also contains a beautiful tribute to Jane Goodall, “Love Song to Jane,” that Dana composed to honor her on her 90th birthday.
Here in Olympia as we plan for the removal of the 5th Ave dam and the freeing of the Deschutes River, Dana’s song, “Drop of Water,” is especially meaningful and reminds us of our intrinsic connection to the earth and our obligation to protect it.
“And in the heat of passion we begin to understand that we are of this land,
that we are part of earth and when it’s threatened we will fight for all we’re worth.”
You can follow Dana on Patreon, read his blog, see where he’s playing next, check out his albums and contact Dana for bookings on his website, Cows with Guns.
Esther Grace Kronenberg is a frequent contributor to Works in Progress
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