← more from
Green Monkey Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    3 CD box set with 40 songs about Olympia WA plus a detailed 80 page book with the history behind the songs and a plethora of great photos. With over 100 Olympa musicians. Stunning!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Olympia - A True Story via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 2 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $25 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Perhaps the most ridiculous song on the album. I do not believe oysters are actually proud. I just made that up. The business in the middle about “the oysters, they call me” was all created on the fly, “with tape rolling in record” as we used to say. I realized I would never do that any better (or any weirder) and kept it. I don’t know if you can currently get them at the Olympia Oyster House (they are seasonal), but I’ve had them there out on the deck on a beautiful summer evening, so I am leaving it in. The rest of the song is actually historically accurate!
Ostrea Lurida. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrea_lurida
Olympia Oyster History: A Walking Tour. Retrieved from cms7files.revize.com/olympia/Document_center/Community/Arts,%20Cultures%20&%20Heritage/
Self-guided%20tours/Oyster-History-Tour.pdf
Steele, E. N. (Earl N.) (1957) The Rise and Decline of the Olympia Oyster. Elma, WA: Fulco Publications

lyrics

O-L-Y-M-P-I-A
O-Y-S- T-E-R-S

Olympia Oysters
Proudest native species in the USA
Olympia Oysters
Put ‘em on your plate and watch ‘em go away

Ostrea lurida is a tasty little bivalve
Proudly calling the Pacific Coast its home
Fed the native population for a very long time
White folks came and nearly made them none

Olympia Oysters
Proudest native species in the USA
Olympia Oysters
Put ‘em on your plate and watch ‘em go away

In the California Gold Rush
1850’s – one buck each
Shipping oysters by the sackload
Sad the walrus as he feasts

Oyster populations went to decline
Japanese Pacific Oysters were brought in
Pollution from the mills and boats just made it worse
People feared that they would become extinct

The oysters, they call me
Each little oyster in this bay now whispers my name
The beautiful beds, awash with the tiniest pearls
I love them, they love me
The world can never be the same

Olympia Oysters populations are improving
Restoration projects in the Puget Sound are on
Oyster farms now grow ‘em and leave alone the natives
You can get ‘em raw or fried at Olympia Oyster House
Olympia Oysters
Proudest native species in the USA
Olympia Oysters
Put ‘em on your plate and watch ‘em go away

credits

from Olympia - A True Story, released October 14, 2022
The True Olympians

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Tom Dyer and The True Olympians image

Tom Dyer and The True Olympians Olympia, Washington

The True Olympians were formed shortly after Tom Dyer moved back to his hometown Olympia in 2006. Their focus is primarily recording, though they do play yer occasional live show. Current members: Tom - vox, guitar etc,, Gene Tveden- bass, b-vox, Joe Cason - keys, b-vox, Lisa Ceazan- vocals, and Jeff Parkhurst - drums, b-vox. Jeff is the band's 4th drummer. ... more

contact / help

Contact Tom Dyer and The True Olympians

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Tom Dyer and The True Olympians recommends:

If you like Tom Dyer and The True Olympians, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring interviews with LA music scene pillar Kamasi Washington, and new London-based duo Mrcy.

listen now