Writing "DCR is Walking With the Land"

This afternoon I set out for a walk across the Windsor Dam at the Quabbin Reservoir. The air was crisp, the sun warm, and the late-summer sky stretched endlessly blue above the water. It was one of those days when you can feel the land itself breathing - the quiet strength of the forest, the shimmer of the reservoir, the pathways that invite you to slow down and simply be.

As I walked, I came upon a group of DCR staff gathered together. They were friendly and open, and before long I found myself in conversation with them. One woman in particular, MeShell, stood out - she is one of the leaders at Mount Greylock. We talked about the Quabbin, about music, and about the work they do across Massachusetts to keep our parks, trails, and natural spaces alive and welcoming.

The more we talked, the more I felt a deep appreciation for what DCR does. These are the people who care for the places that mean so much to all of us - places where we walk, hike, paddle, reflect, and reconnect. They make sure the Quabbin, and so many other beautiful landscapes across the state, remain accessible, safe, and vibrant.

I left the conversation inspired. Music has always been my way of responding to the world, and I felt moved to give something back - a song for DCR, simple and singable, something they could use while walking or hiking together.

Here are the lyrics:

DCR is Walking With the Land

(Chorus)
DCR is walking with the land, step by step we go,
Water, woods, and mountains, rivers we all know.
Voices join together, strong as earth and sky,
DCR is walking with the land, we'll keep it safe and strong.

(Verse 1)
Hear the wind upon the pine,
See the eagle's flight.
Quabbin holds the water clear,
Shining in the light.

(Chorus)
DCR is walking with the land, step by step we go,
Water, woods, and mountains, rivers we all know.
Voices join together, strong as earth and sky,
DCR is walking with the land, we'll keep it safe and strong.

(Verse 2)
Stories flow like rivers do,
Old and new they meet.
Caring for the paths we walk,
Life beneath our feet.

(Chorus - repeat)

I recorded a simple version which you can listen to here:

👉 DCR is Walking With the Land

I hope the song carries a little of the gratitude I feel - for the people of DCR, for the Quabbin, and for all the wild and beautiful spaces we share.