Musician on river song experience as Songs of Susquehanna cutoff nears

​In May of 2019, Luzerne County musician Don Shappelle received an invitation to develop a river song aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat near Williamsport for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Floating Classroom series.
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“I went into it with a few ideas, but basically had about 45 minutes to write a song with about 40 to 50 kids and their parents,” he said. “We got a song out of it – ‘A Happy River is a Clean River’ – and it was so much fun.”

The excitement of the kids helped fuel the creative process for Shappelle.

“They were all so into it, and well aware of the situation with clean water and pollution. They all wanted to add something to this song,” he said. “I just thought it was really cool.”
Since then, Shappelle has shared the song at pretty much every one of his gigs, and inspired by the response he has received.

“We were doing a café set at the Wegmans in Wilkes-Barre, and there were a bunch of college kids there,” he said. “We started playing this song, and by the time we hit the second chorus, all those college students were singing along and clapping. That’s the mark of a song that’s achieved what it set out to do – to get people singing along of all different age groups.”

Shappelle’s passion for the river started at a young age, playing along the banks of the Susquehanna just a few blocks away from where he grew up in Forty Fort. As his career blossomed, he found the importance of combining both his loves of music and the river.

“I learned how important river music can be in inspiring people to get involved and help clean up the river,” he said. “I’ve tried to create awareness of our river and its water quality through my music. At some gigs, I’m preaching to the choir, but I’ve also sang songs where people had no clue what was going on environmentally.”

The pandemic has obviously impacted his ability to play over the past year, which is why he is excited about the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper’s Songs of the Susquehanna project.

“This has been the first time in my career where I have not been able to go out and perform with people – like all musicians, I have never experienced this amount of time I couldn’t be out with others,” he said. “Having an outlet like this is very much appreciated.”

Musicians of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to enter their original songs inspired by the river and/or its tributaries throughout the 11,000-square-mile Middle Susquehanna watershed through Jan. 31. Songs will be shared at MiddleSusquehannaRiverkeeper.org and feedback provided by listeners will help the Riverkeeper develop a playlist of music to help inspire people to connect with our waterways and protect the recreational and therapeutic resources they provide. Also, businesses and individuals who may want to donate toward incentives for musicians who participate are encouraged to email Riverkeeper John Zaktansky as soon as possible.

“When I try to write a song about the river, I try to incorporate the rhythm of the river – the way I feel about its flowing. I try to get that into the beat of the song, whether I’m thinking about paddling on the river, sailing on the river or just walking along a riverbank, there’s so much you can get as an influence from the river,” Shappelle said. 

“I believe good river songs are those that are easy to pick up. They are songs people want to sing with you. You aren’t singing at people or to people, but with people. That’s the whole point of cleaning up a river and being aware of what’s around you in the environment – to do it together.”

Shappelle encourages everyone who shares a passion with our natural resources and with music to use their skills to inspire others to make a difference.

“I have learned that music provides a platform that can be used in such a positive way,” he said. “It can educate, it can create a spark. Regardless if they are five years old or 75, a song can help people realize how much they can get out of clean river vs. a dirty, polluted river.”

Check out a short video during Don Shappelle's song-creating experience with students aboard the Hiawatha Paddleboat from May of 2019:

Listen to the recent full podcast interview with Don Shappelle, where he talks about creating "A Happy River is a Clean River,"  the importance of merging music with the river and the platform provided by Songs of the Susquehanna:

Here is just the song, A Happy River is a Clean River, sung by Don Shappelle:

A Happy River is a Clean River song lyrics:

Chorus: A happy river is a clean river, A clean river is a happy river
The fish and the birds and the turtles too, are happy when the river is a clean river

If you like to paddle or you like to row, there's always a place on the river to go
and sing a song to the fish below and take a ride on the Hiawatha paddlewheel boat

Chorus: A happy river is a clean river, A clean river is a happy river
The fish and the birds and the turtles too, are happy when the river is a clean river

The river it flows a mighty long way, from New York down to the Chesapeake Bay
Thru towns and cities all along the way, the river keeps flowin' each and every day

Chorus: A happy river is a clean river, A clean river is a happy river
The fish and the birds and the turtles too, are happy when the river is a clean river

Now what can we do to keep the river clean, do not litter in the tributary streams
We've all got a job to do it seems, to keep the Susquehanna flowing clean

Chorus: A happy river is a clean river, A clean river is a happy river
The fish and the birds and the turtles too, are happy when the river is a clean river

Repurpose and re-use your trash, Recycle cans, plastic and glass
Tell other folks if they may ask, we're doin' our part to make nature last

Chorus: A happy river is a clean river, A clean river is a happy river
The fish and the birds and the turtles too, are happy when the river is a clean river

The fish and the birds will all thank you, The river will be cleaner because of you.

​For more information about Songs of the Susquehanna, and how you can get involved, visit the "Song Project" page at MiddleSusquehannaRiverkeeper.org