Does anyone else have a song that immediately makes you think of canoe country? Because Quetico's Sarah Lake is one of my favorites, any time I hear Hall & Oates 'Sara Smile', I'm in Quetico. What song or songs teleport you to the BWCA/Q?

TZ

This will seem very "old lady" probably, but I always sing hymns on portages. Not out loud, just in my head, to keep the cadence of my steps and to distract me from aches and pains. Every time I hear (or my church choir sings) "The First Song of Isaiah" I am immediately transported to the portage trails.

Since my open-heart surgery I have been following a strict walking regimen to build up my heart strength and endurance. I often sing this song on my walks as well. It is just the right tempo for walking, especially for walking on uneven ground, when I need encouragement to keep my pace steady.

The text of the refrain is inspiring: "Sure it is God who saves me, I will trust in Him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and He will be my savior." I also sing it when I am in an MRI. Have had too many of those in the past few years, and I do not like the tube! When I sing it in a circumstance like that I am experiencing the canoe country in my mind.

Spartan2: "This will seem very "old lady" probably, but I always sing hymns on portages. Not out loud, just in my head, to keep the cadence of my steps and to distract me from aches and pains. Every time I hear (or my church choir sings) "The First Song of Isaiah" I am immediately transported to the portage trails.


Since my open-heart surgery I have been following a strict walking regimen to build up my heart strength and endurance. I often sing this song on my walks as well. It is just the right tempo for walking, especially for walking on uneven ground.


The text of the refrain is inspiring: "Sure it is God who saves me, I will trust in Him and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and He will be my savior." I also sing it when I am in an MRI. Have had too many of those in the past few years, and I do not like the tube! When I sing it in a circumstance like that I am experiencing the canoe country in my mind."

I do the same. I love your posts!

TrailZen: "Does anyone else have a song that immediately makes you think of canoe country? Because Quetico's Sarah Lake is one of my favorites, any time I hear Hall & Oates 'Sara Smile', I'm in Quetico. What song or songs teleport you to the BWCA/Q?

TZ"

Oddly enough Metalica’s Black Album. It came out the day before I head up for a week long trip with my two brothers and dad. Listened to it all the way from Ohio and back.

I don't have a song but for sure a sound - the iconic beep beep beep of the nuthatch, and if it's a red-breasted nuthatch, even better. This little bird song is such a balm, especially in March when winter is getting long in the tooth.

jillpine: "I don't have a song but for sure a sound - the iconic beep beep beep of the nuthatch, and if it's a red-breasted nuthatch, even better. This little bird song is such a balm, especially in March when winter is getting long in the tooth. "

White-throated sparrow for me.

And Metalica.

"Here Comes The Sun" does it for me. You know the feeling up there, a few rainy days and the sun finally busts. out. I found my self splashing through puddles on a portage singing this song as everything cleared up and started to sparkle in the
sunshine.

Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple.

Bouncing (tipping) over the waves/portages on the Kruger Challenge - I hum the beat .... "We must remain Perfect Strangers-"-- that beat is like 3 footers hitting you broadside--- "

Perfect Strangers

"Rocks and Roots" by One Match.

Nigal: "

TrailZen: "Does anyone else have a song that immediately makes you think of canoe country? Because Quetico's Sarah Lake is one of my favorites, any time I hear Hall & Oates 'Sara Smile', I'm in Quetico. What song or songs teleport you to the BWCA/Q?


TZ"

Oddly enough Metalica’s Black Album. It came out the day before I head up for a week long trip with my two brothers and dad. Listened to it all the way from Ohio and back. "

Since you mentioned Metallica's Black Album, how about "Of Wolf and Man" from that album? That's a pretty appropriate song for canoe country eh?

TrailZen- This is a great thread idea and I could go in multiple directions with this! Music has always been a part of our trips. But probably the best example is this:
A few years ago my buddy and I were on Kawnipi Lake with our boys, both 15 at the time. We're out fishing, and we hear singing coming across the lake. We look around, and eventually three canoes paddle past us, each canoe loaded with three bikini-clad young ladies, all singing in unison while they paddle. Of course this especially got the attention of our boys. My son nearly botched the net job on a nice pike because he was having trouble focusing! Anyhow, the girls were singing "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie. So every time I hear that song now, I am quickly transported right back to Kawnipi Lake!

Whispers of the North by Gordon Lightfoot

Somehow songs written in Dorian mode make me think of the BW. Examples: Wicked Game (Chris Isaak), Scarborough Fair, and maybe what created that spark, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

MichiganMan: "

Nigal: "

TrailZen: "Does anyone else have a song that immediately makes you think of canoe country? Because Quetico's Sarah Lake is one of my favorites, any time I hear Hall & Oates 'Sara Smile', I'm in Quetico. What song or songs teleport you to the BWCA/Q?



TZ"

Oddly enough Metalica’s Black Album. It came out the day before I head up for a week long trip with my two brothers and dad. Listened to it all the way from Ohio and back. "

Since you mentioned Metallica's Black Album, how about "Of Wolf and Man" from that album? That's a pretty appropriate song for canoe country eh?"

That is perfect! Haven’t listened to this album in years. I’ll have to dust it off.

Wanna gonna with this-- deep- but most will understand.

Up where we belong

One song popped into my head last trip that I am surprised hasn't been in there before!!! "You put your left foot in you put your left foot out...." Come on you all know it. Sing along.

Dixie on my mind


Technically about a different region of the country but, the theme/lyrics resonate universally about getting away from the crowds.

One of the lines - "if this is the promised land? I've had all I can stand." Is more relatable than ever these days. And, makes getting away to canoe country more of a treasured experience than ever.

DownStrm: ""Rocks and Roots" by One Match."

And here ya are. (I only have about 50 more of songs about paddling the BW)

Rocks And Roots

Jerry has a lot of songs that are appropriate for this category.

When we were up on the Gunflint in early September we took a day trip on East Bearskin to Alder Lake. On the way back that afternoon I was singing "Headwind" almost continually as we battled back against the wind.

OneMatch: "

DownStrm: ""Rocks and Roots" by One Match."

And here ya are. (I only have about 50 more of songs about paddling the BW)


Rocks And Roots "

Aurora's favorite.


"The morning fog has lifted" is another of my personal favorites.

Funny. I guess that's the one time I don't have any music in my head. The loons are my only music up there that I can recall.

brahms. The genius of his late piano pieces reflects the introspective work of a man who had spent many solitary hours in the german forests. This is some of the most sublime music ever written. Beethoven also spent great amounts of time inspired by the german alps. I know every note of this music. I worship it. When I’m in the bwca, portaging my stupid heavy canvas canoe I usually have Gillian’s island theme music going, maybe cigarette commercials for cigarette brands that no longer exist. Our brains are so amazing!

Or not?

On the way in: Do Wah Diddy - Manfred Man.

On the way out: Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffet.

One song that I have always associated with solitude and being in the outdoors is "Leaf and Stream" by Wishbone Ash.

Mine is "I Got You, Babe", performed by Sonny and Cher.

Frankly, I find the tune kinda annoying and it has nothing to do with the BWCA, BUT...years ago we were heading up the Echo Trail towards our put-in at LIS. It was a chilly, dreary, rainy morning and we all were a bit apprehensive about starting our trip in such crappy weather. We were listening to WELY radio who played this song and it caught my attention because just days before I had watched the movie "Groundhog Day". I thought about how the movie used this song to signal the start of yet another miserable day and it spoke to our mood at the moment (to the contrary, the rest of the day, and our trip, turned out to be as enjoyable as hoped for).

Now, if I ever hear that song, it transports me back to that moment which then triggers other BWCA memories.

If I had a boat by Lyle lovett.
Girl from the north country by bob dylan.

"Looking for Lewis and Clark" by the Long Ryders...

Bob Seger- Against the Wind

I try to get to the BWCA a couple times a year with different groups. All of the folks I trip with enjoy music and the OP has been a familiar subject. The past couple of years, each person in one group I trip with has provided me with their "day paddle song" and their "night song" from which I have assembled a play list for us to enjoy. The cool factor is we all have different taste and get to hear songs that would not necessarily be in our wheelhouse but are enjoyable for sure. Interestingly, several of the songs noted supra have been on our playlist. Great minds...

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

When my daughters were very young ( 4 & 7) as we paddled across Bald Eagle & Gabbro, in a windy but sunny day, we started up the song; "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood". Both my daughters knew it & it was the right speed to paddle to. Sometimes John & I still sing that song, but maybe not the whole song. Been using it since 1981.