Woody Guthrie was one of the most important folk singers in American history. His songs told real stories of working people, injustice, and the beauty of the land.

He’s best known for powerful songs like This Land Is Your Land and helped shape American folk music into what it is today.

A close friend and collaborator of Guthrie, Cisco Houston, also had a strong voice in folk music. He brought a smooth baritone style to songs about labor, travel, and American life. Like Guthrie, he used music to share truth and connect with everyday people across the country.

About the Song

Roll On, Columbia, Roll On is a folk song that praises the Columbia River and its power to support American life and work. It was originally a government-commissioned song to promote hydroelectric dams.

The lyrics blend love for nature with hope for a better future. Both Guthrie and Houston made the song well known with their heartfelt performances.

Lyrics by Woody Guthrie

Verse 1

Green Douglas fir where the waters cut through
Down her wild mountains and canyons she flew
Canadian Northwest to the ocean so blue
It’s roll on, Columbia, roll on

Chorus

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning our darkness to dawn
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 2

Other great rivers add power to you
Yakima, Snake and the Klickitat, too
Sandy, Willamette and Hood River, too
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 3

It’s there on your banks that we fought many a fight
Sheridan’s boys in the blockhouse that night
They saw us in death but never in flight
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Chorus

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning our darkness to dawn
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 4

Our loved ones we lost there at Coe’s little store
By fireball and rifle, a dozen or more
We won by the Mary and soldiers she bore
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 5

Remember the trial when the battle is won
The wild Indian warrior to the tall timber run
We hung every Indian with smoke in his gun
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 6

Year after year we had tedious trials
Fighting the Rapids Cascades and Dalles
The Indians rest peaceful on Memaloose Isle
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Chorus

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning our darkness to dawn
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 7

At Bonneville now there is ships in the locks
Waters have risen and drowned the rocks
Shiploads of plenty will steam in the docks
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Verse 8

On up the river is Grand Coulee Dam
Mightiest thing ever built by a man
To run the great factories for Old Uncle Sam
It’s roll on, Columbia, roll on

Chorus

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning darkness to dawn
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

Lyrics by Cisco Houston

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning the darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

Green Douglas fir where the water cut through
Down her wild mountains and canyons she flew
Canadian Northwest to the ocean so blue
It’s roll on Columbia, roll on

Other great rivers add power to you
The Yakima, Snake, and the Klickitat, too
Sandy Willamette and the Hood River too
It’s roll on, Columbia, roll on

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning the darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

There on your banks that we fought many a fight
Sheridan’s boys in the blockhouse that night
They saw us in death but never in flight
It’s roll on Columbia, roll on

At Bonneville now there are ships in the locks
The waters have risen and cleared all the rocks
Shiploads of plenty will steam past the docks
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning the darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

On up the river is Grand Coulee Dam
The mightiest thing ever built by a man
To run the great factories and water the land
Roll on, Columbia, roll on

These mighty men labored by day and by night
Matching their strength ‘gainst the river’s wild flight
Through rapids and falls, they won the hard fight
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning the darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning the darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on

Similar Songs Like Roll On, Columbia

Listeners who enjoy Roll On, Columbia may also enjoy these songs by Guthrie and Houston:

• This Land Is Your Land: A powerful folk anthem with themes of land, freedom, and equality, much like Roll On, Columbia.
• Pastures of Plenty: Shares stories of American workers and farmland, with a heartfelt tone.
• Hard Traveling: A travel song with strong rhythm and social themes, similar in tone to Roll On, Columbia.
• Talking Dust Bowl Blues: Uses humor and storytelling to reflect hard times, just like Guthrie’s Columbia ballads.

Similar artists like Woody Guthrie & Donald O’ Connor

If you connect with the voices of Guthrie and Houston, here are other folk artists you may enjoy:

• Pete Seeger
  Genre: Folk
  Top Album/Work: Where Have All the Flowers Gone
• Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
  Genre: Folk
  Top Album/Work: Jack Takes the Floor
• Lead Belly
  Genre: Folk/Blues
  Top Album/Work: Goodnight, Irene
• Phil Ochs
  Genre: Folk
  Top Album/Work: I Ain’t Marching Anymore
• Bruce Springsteen
  Genre: Folk Rock/Protest Music
  Top Album/Work: The Ghost of Tom Joad

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Meaning Behind Roll On, Columbia?

The song praises the Columbia River and celebrates its role in powering and uniting the Pacific Northwest, symbolizing hope and progress.

Why did Woody Guthrie Write Roll On, Columbia?

He was commissioned by the Bonneville Power Administration to write songs promoting hydroelectric projects and public power in the Northwest.

Is Roll On Columbia the State Song of Washington?

It is the official state folk song of Washington, adopted in 1987.