When I have occasionally listened back to some of the older Portland songs, I’ve been struck by how much fun I had creating “The Elephant Swing.”  So this week I’m returning to the swing genre, taking the dance over to Sauvie Island to sing about its berries.  ‘Tis the merry berry season, after all!  This week’s song, “The Berry Hop,” imagines a swing dance on Sauvie Island that gets you picking berries.  Good for the soul, if a little hard on the back.

Two other little notes: first, I fell prey as I was recording this week to the popular mispronunciation “Sauvie’s Island” (as opposed to the correct “Sauvie Island”).  I didn’t go to the trouble of rerecording the song, but I did correct it in the lyrics.  Oh well -- I guess it just proves how entrenched I am in Portland (and the speech mistakes its residents sometimes make!).

The second note -- and one I’m proud to report -- is that as of this week, the One Year of Portland Songs is halfway done!  This is song #26 of 52, so we’re rolling right along...

Lyrics:

When the air is clear, and the summer's nice,

Listen to me, take my advice:

There's only one place in this city to go,

But you'll have to go over a bridge, you know.

You've heard all about it -- believe the hype.

Join us now, 'cause the time is ripe.

If you want an experience to make your feet quicken,

Come on down for some berry pickin'.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, marionberries.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, ooh, berries!

Sauvie Island is swingin' tonight,

Grab your partner and hold him tight.

If you're swift in the turns, if your moves are slick,

Then come on down adn take your pick.

Berry hop, berry hop,

Dance away your cares -- be bop!

Berry hop, berry hop,

Dance until the berries drop.

This is the place to find something sweet,

Let your hair down, and dance to the beat.

You can take your shoes off and wiggle your toes,

And I'll tell you how the berry hop goes:

First you bend down, then you reach out fast,

Pull your hand back, and open it at last.

Stand up tall and swing to the side,

Then do it again, and you're off on the ride.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, marionberries.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, ooh, berries!

Sauvie Island is swingin' tonight,

Grab your partner and hold her tight.

With berries like these, how can you go wrong?

So, come and join our very merry song.

At the berry hop, berry hop,

Dance away your cares -- be bop!

Berry hop, berry hop,

Dance until the berries drop.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, marionberries.

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, ooh, berries!

Sauvie Island is swingin' tonight,

Find a partner who treats you right.

Don't look for me, 'cause you know where I am:

Over at Sauvie Island in the thick of the jam.

At the berry hop, berry hop,

Dance away your cares -- be bop!

At the berry hop, berry hop,

Dance until the berries drop.