Dave Pharr singing Care For the Waters @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2018-06-23

David B. Pharr sang this Traditional Folk song, “Care For the Waters,” at the First Annual Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, Saturday, June 23, 2018, at the Salty Snapper, Valdosta, GA.

David B. Pharr

As he sang about the Suwannee and the other rivers: “And you may cross my bridges, But you’ll never get over me.”

Here’s the video:


Dave Pharr singing Care For the Waters @ Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2018-06-23
Video by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS).

This was the First Annual, and we have made many notes for next year, such as need a follow spot on the singer, and let’s place the camera where people are not walking in front of it.

Dave Pharr is the outfitter at Suwannee Canoe Outpost at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, which is obviously inside the Suwannee River Basin. He wrote about himself:

Being in the canoe livery business for nearly 27 years has given me a great appreciation for our local rivers, creeks and springs. I also enjoy being a conduit for outsiders to share my appreciation of our waterways.

His song is “Care For the Waters,” Genre Traditional Folk. He wrote it April 25, 2018, and he wrote about it:

I composed the song while on a shuttle to the upper Suwannee, driving a Canoe Outpost shuttle van and thinking about what the rivers mean to me.

Here are the lyrics, which he explained as “the other side” being the meaning of the name, Alapaha, “long and winding” being the meaning of Withlacoochee, and “echo” for Suwannee River.

I went down to the river
   and she whispered in my ear
“I have things to tell you,
   there are things you need to hear….
I am alive and healthy
   and I fill your soul with glee
I have always cared for you
   now it’s time you cared for me.”

The ‘Lapaha and the Suwannee
The Withlacoochee flowing too
And if you care for the waters
The waters will take care of you.

She said “I’m the long and winding
   I’m the other side you see
I’m the echos of your heart
   So love me if you please.
If you bring your burdens
   I will set your mind at ease
And you may cross my bridges
   But you’ll never get over me.”

The ‘Lapaha and the Suwannee
The Withlacoochee flowing too
And if you care for the waters
The waters will take care of you.

The ‘Lapaha and the Suwannee
The Withlacoochee flowing too
And if you care for the waters
The waters will take care of you.
So if you care for the waters
The waters will take care of you.

Dave did not win a prize, but I really like his song, and I think everyone else did, too.

The ‘Lapaha and the Suwannee
The Withlacoochee flowing too
And if you care for the waters
The waters will take care of you.

We will be publishing the rest of the songs and the rest of the contest finals.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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