Prayer for Feather River

We can see the forests burning in the mountains to the East
Tearing up the Plumas like a crazed and savage beast
It started on the Caribou Road in the middle of the night 
By the time the hand crews found it had already taken flight 
From Belden up to Seneca the forests are a blaze
They can not stop the wild fire; they've been at it 15 days 
There are dozers and there ‘s choppers where the canyons are to steep 
There are weary fire fighters wishing for a full nights sleep 
Say a prayer for Feather River; it will never be the same 
For that verdant rugged canyon has been taken by the flame 

Here the canyons are the steepest the August days are dry 
And they cannot stop the wild fire no matter how they try 
If it finally reaches Almanor They can try to stop it there 
But its always that there’s lightning in the tinderbox of air 
Say a prayer for Feather River, it will never be the same 
For that verdant rugged canyon has been taken by the flame
 
It’s the fate of every forest, it can happen any year
And the stoic watch the Column from a ridge top somewhere near 
They will tell you it is nature; some say that its Gods plan
But inside their hearts are breaking for the sweet and ravaged land 
Say a prayer for Feather River; it will never be the same 
For that verdant rugged canyon has been taken by the flame

Written by Sara Hoxie. Performed on the albums For the Time We’re Here and Prayer for Feather River.