On Geoducks
Gooey ducks (Geoduck) are large “obscene” clams found in the pacific Northwest, the world’s largest burrowing bivalve, often attaining a weight of ten pounds. The “Gooey Duck” song was written by harpmaker-storyteller Ron Konzak of Washington State along with Judy and Jerry Elfendahl. Jerry is a diver who is part of a new industry that harvests the geoduck commercially in the Pacific Northwest.
Here’s a fun video from “Dirty Jobs” on Discovery Channel:
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is a good place to read up on these guys before you go hunting.
The song has been released as single (much nicer than this midi version) and is available through Acme Music (6490 Ada’s Will lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110). By the way, Ron tells us it’s a hit in Japan.
THE GOOEY DUCK SONG
by Ron Konzak and Jerry and Judy Elfendahl, c.1972
You can hear the diggers say, as they’re headed for the bay,
Oh I gotta dig a duck, gotta dig a duck a day,
‘Cause I get a buck a duck, if I dig a duck a day,
So I gotta dig a duck, gotta dig a duck a day.
Chorus:
Dig a duck, dig a duck,
Dig a gooey duck
Dig a duck, dig a gooey duck,
Dig a duck a day.
Oh it takes a lotta of luck, and a certain kinda pluck
For to dig around the muck, for to get a gooey duck.
For he doesn’t have a front and he doesn’t have a back,
And he doesn’t know Donald, and he doesn’t go quack!
As they walk across the sand, nearly half a mile from land,
For to dig a gooey duck, for to dig them out by hand,
Oh it isn’t any trouble and it doesn’t take a shovel,
To find a gooey duck by looking for the bubble.
(sing out says repeat first verse, to chorus)
