“Hatchery To The Grave”

E

Ellen Chenoweth
2 min read · Feb 17, 2019

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Lyrics by Ellen Chenoweth Button

Music by Josh Houston Button

I wrote a rap about my dissertation work studying humpback whales that feed on juvenile salmon at hatchery release sites in Southeast Alaska.

Photo by Monique Anderson NMFS Permit #14122

P. Hack (prologue):
Let me tell you a tale about some fish who seek freedom
And the humpback whales that wait ready to eat ‘em.

P. Hack (refrain):
Freedom ain’t friendly like it or not.
If you want to live, be long, large, and lucky a lot.

P. Hack (v1):
A late start to his day, out in old Takatz Bay.
Never bored in this fjord, throw a bone out for George. [bark]
Come out of the shed with a bag of Bio Oregon.
The origin is foreign and go grab a pail and pour it in
Go back and get some more again
Ain’t no point in storin’ it away
Because today you fish are leaving this bay.

Gonna feed it to you chums, that need it and eat it
And swell so well until you’re ready to beat it
Out to the open ocean and you make him so proud
He lowers his nets and you leave in a crowd,
But freedom ain’t friendly, like it or not.
If you want to live be long, large, and lucky a lot.

Lil Buddy:
I’ve been turning transects all day
Mapping all the waters of this bay
Drafting up your data
Darling don’t you wait up
‘Cause I could be at it all May.

Busy working while Lady P. Hack rhymes
Little Buddy don’t need no snack times.
Sending out my sound,
It’s bouncing up and down
Keeping this research on track…lines.

P. Hack (v2):
Hey chums, you’re finally free.
You hopped the fence.
The water is murky, it’s green, and it’s dense.
You’re swarming and swimming your crew’s feeling tense.
The ocean before you is deep and immense.

And just then a shadow passes over your crew.
You look to your left, hey George is that you?
Some of you chums go on hustling past
You kick up your fins and you try to go fast
But then it’s nothing but bubbles
You swim for the sky.
You leap from the spray or you give it a try,
but then you’re stalling and falling and floundering fast, fish
You feel freedom flowing right out of your grasp. Switch
And fight through the foam as you break for the chin,
But it all closes in with a billowy grin

And just like that it’s over before it even begins

P. Hack (epilogue): And now you’re never gonna be a blue-water fish,
Or make a fisherman rich,
Or lie fat on a dish.
Freedom ain’t friendly, like it or not.
If you want to live be long, large, and lucky a lot.