A river song for the Connecticut - or even a tune for a tributary?

By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

If you live in New England, chances are you’ve been to the Connecticut River – the region’s largest that starts as a trickle in northern New Hampshire and flows 410 miles south through Massachusetts before emptying into Long Island Sound off Connecticut.

Kayaking on the Connecticut (Caleb Kenna/Boston Globe)

Maybe you’ve fished it, camped beside it, canoed it or swam in it. But bet you haven’t written a song about it.

Now, the Connecticut River Watershed Council is holding its second “Living along the River Songwriting Contest.” And this year, it’s not only about the Connecticut – but also its mass of tributaries, from the Ashuelot in southwestern New Hampshire to the Deerfield River in southern Vermont and northwestern Massachusetts.

Last year, John Currie of Orange, Massachusetts walked away with the top $500 prize for his song “The River” (you can hear it at the end of the post) which included the opening line “Its two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen” and the refrain that took listeners through a river year.

He beat out 50 other songwriters who submitted 65 original Connecticut River songs.

This year, submissions must be postmarked by July 15, 2009 and must be on a CD and a $10 per song entry fee. Songs must have lyrics (no instrumentals) and be shorter than 4 minutes and 30 seconds. For more details go to the council’s website or call Pat LaMountain at: 413-772-2020 x 203.

And if you are looking for some inspiration, check out Currie and the other top winners in last year’s contest from 7-10 p.m. at the Unitarian Meetinghouse in Bernardston, MA on Saturday, May 30. It’s part of the Connecticut River Valley Great Spring Water Event.
(hear Currie's song here:

"The River" by John Currie of Orange, Mass.