Bona Fide

Original songs illustrate life in Idaho’s Snake River region.

	Gary Eller (Nampa) on guitar, Sarah Gray (Nampa) on fiddle and Marv Quinton (Meridian) on mandolin are Bona Fide. The group performs traditional, contemporary and original acoustic music emphasizing Americana themes. For more about the group, or information on ordering a CD, visit http://www.bonafidaho.com/.

Jump Creek ramble

The fast guitar swing melody of this tune was inspired by mental images of Jump Creek dashing out of the Owyhee high country down to the sage flatlands near Marsing. Jump Creek drains a wild, rugged and extensive upland area to the south while cutting dramatic Jump Creek Canyon, which terminates in a beautiful 60-foot waterfall at the edge of the flats. Hear Jump Creek Ramble.

Class five

The ebb and flow of this fast banjo instrumental was inspired by the experience of rafting some of Idaho’s fabled whitewater rivers. The song expresses the apprehension, exhilaration and satisfaction that comes from successfully rowing through a powerful set of rapids. Hear Class Five.

Daddy, my daddy

A young child recalls fording the treacherous Three Island Crossing on the Snake River along the Oregon Trail. Crossing the river meant good feed and water for the team and a shorter route to Ft. Boise. Hear Daddy My Daddy.

Lyrics for Daddy:

In June of 1852 our family headed west,
There was mom and dad, and I was six, and baby brother three.
From Old. St. Joe to Oregon to meet our greatest test,
Fifteen hundred miles of dust to find our destiny.

Along the trail a little ways back, our grandma’s laid to rest,
Buried in a shallow grave by the trail late at night.
Now the waters of the mighty Snake will be an awful test,
We have no choice we must cross and make it to the other side.

Chorus:
Oh Daddy, my Daddy, do we have to cross this river?
The water’s deep and runs so fast, this river looks so wide.
Yes daughter, my daughter, wrap your arms around Daddy’s neck,
Hang on tight I’ll get us through, we’ll make it to the other side.

We marched into that mighty Snake three islands marked the way,
Brother cried and so did I but mommy she was brave.
The horses swam with all their might the water it was high,
I held tight to Daddy’s neck, scared and so afraid.

The river roared and pulled us down, I feared that we would drown,
The bank of island number one looked so far away.
Shoshone ponies, riders brave, jumped in and pulled us out,
I thanked them for their helping hand, they surely saved the day.