Songs for Silvia that were sung at the Celebration of the Life of Silvia Lange on March 21, 2010

January 2005 Silvia’s Birthday Song
by Wendy Dreskin
(To the tune of Sixteen Tons)

I was born one morning when the sun came up.
First words I said were, “I want my own pup.”
But my Daddy said it “wasn’t needed.”
I knew that meant, “Costs too much to feed it.”

16 pups, what do you get?
Another day older and a floor that’s wet!
Santa Rosa don’t you call them, cause they can’t go –
These cute little pups are just 5 weeks old!

I read about dogs both day and night.
I even prayed, “Dear God let me lose my sight”
Cause then my Daddy would have to say,
“Let’s get a seeing-eye dog to show her the way!”

16 pups, what do you get?
Another day older and a floor that’s wet!
Santa Rosa don’t you call them, cause they can’t go –
These sweet little pups are just 6 weeks old!

I went to CCI and said, “I’ll raise a pup.”
They gave me Nary, such a joy to bring up.
I said, “How can I give her up? I want her, I need her!”
They said, “Take her back, she’s gonna be a breeder!”

16 pups, what do you get?
Another day older and a floor that’s wet!
Santa Rosa don’t you call them, cause they can’t go –
These dear little pups are just 7 weeks old!

They gave me Odine, she helped raise Nary’s litter.
She was such a help, a great puppy sitter.
When she left she said to me, “Don’t be blue,
Folks need me in Sonoma I’ve got work to do!”

16 pups, what do you get?
Another day older and a floor that’s wet!
Santa Rosa don’t you call them, cause they can’t go –
These cute little pups are just 8 weeks old!

Sika is a smart dog as you can tell
When I say she knows pig Latin and she learned to spell.
A great personality, a real go-getter
I know when she leaves she’ll make someone’s life better!

16 pups, what do you get?
Another day older and a floor that’s wet!
Santa Rosa don’t you call them, cause they can’t go –
These fine little pups are just 9 weeks old!


SONG FOR SILVIA
by Wendy Dreskin May 2003
(To the tune of When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again)

When Silvia takes us on a tour
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We learn of moles and deer and more
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Of Chinese poetry on the wall
And the battle that never happened at all!
You’ll always know more
After taking Silvia’s tour!

When Silvia takes us up a hill
Huff Puff! Huff Puff!
She always knows when we’ve had enough.
Huff Puff! Huff Puff!
When the uphill stretches seem too long,
She’ll tell us a tale, or sing us a song.
You’ll always know more
After taking Silvia’s tour!

She knows the Island from shore to shore
Hurrah! Hurrah!
From the Cove to the top of Mt. Livermore
Hurrah! Hurrah!
She’ll show you the last of the pipevine to bloom
And the maze that was walked by the bride and groom!
You’ll always know more
After taking Silvia’s tour!

We’ve traveled to many foreign lands
To Greece! To Thailand!
But Silvia showed us the beauty of
Our own Angel Island!
We found what the Miwoks and Spanish knew,
It’s a beautiful isle with a marvelous view.
And it can’t be compared to Brazil or Peru
Because....it’s an island!

A short note of explanation about the Song for Silvia. The song was written as a thank you for a wonderful trip to Angel Island spring 2003, but actually makes reference to several different trips.

“We learn of moles and deer and more” refers to the endemic Angel Island mole, and the story of how the Park has tried to deal with the problems of deer over-populating and the publics objections to culling the herd.

“Of Chinese poetry on the wall
And the battle that never happened at all!” The poetry was carved into the wall at the Immigration Center by detainees. The battle that never happening during the Civil War is reenacted each year on Angel Island.

“She’ll show you the last of the pipevine to bloom
And the maze that was walked by the bride and groom!”
California pipevine is the host plant of the pipevine swallowtail, and Silvia knew where the plants are and could often find caterpillars. The maze was created out of small stones by a couple who got married on Angel Island, although, unfortunately Silvia told us the maze outlasted the marriage.

“Because....it’s an island!” Silvia presented a theme which is that the answer to many of the questions people have, and the reason behind most of the human uses for Angel Island, can be answered with, “Because it’s an island” so this seemed an appropriate ending.