“Potter Valley Mill” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Potter Valley Mill” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney.
Tune: Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney.
Now, the mill in Potter Valley, it’s been here fifty years,
Millin’ all them fir trees that used to grow ’round here.
But now, they’re runnin’ out of timber, and the mill is shuttin’ down.
They’re packin’ up their band saws, and they’re movin’ out of town.
And they’re closing down the mill at Potter Valley,
Leaving all us good folks in a bind.
They’re closing down the mill at Potter Valley,
And I can’t believe the mess we’ll leave behind.
Now, Ray says there’s timber back there; they’ll haul it right past town.
Sam says they’ll re-open if another mill burns down.
The company says its environmentalists crimpin’ up their style.
But as I look out on the Mendocino Forest, I can’t see a tree for miles.
And they’re closing down the mill at Potter Valley,
Leaving all us good folks in a bind.
They’re closing down the mill at Potter Valley,
And I can’t believe the mess we’ll leave behind.
Now, when they doubled our shift five years ago, I knew we soon would see this day.
And our property values are droppin’; I can’t sell and I can’t pay.
The machinery ought to stay right here; to move it would be a crime.
We’ve kept it fixed and runnin’ for fifty years; we ought to fix it one more time.
And they’re closing down the mill at Potter Valley,
Leaving all us good folks in a bind.
They’re closing down the mill at Potter Valley,
And I can’t believe the mess we’ll leave behind.
And I can’t believe the mess we’ll leave behind.