Let the Franklin Flow

"Let the Franklin Flow" is a song written by Shane Howard (credited as Franklin River)^[1] and recorded by Australian band Goanna (credited as Gordon Franklin and the Wilderness Ensemble). The song was released in April 1983 as a protest song to save the Franklin River from being dammed in Tasmania, Australia. "Let the Franklin Flow" peaked at number 12 on the Australian Kent Music Report.

"Let the Franklin Flow"
Single by Gordon Franklin And The Wilderness Ensemble
Released	April 1983
Length	3:30
Label	WEA
Songwriter(s)	Franklin River
Producer(s)	Trevor Lucas
Gordon Franklin And The Wilderness Ensemble singles chronology
"Razor's Edge" (1983) "Let the Franklin Flow" (1983) "That Day...Is Comin'" (1983)

Background

On 13 February 1983, Gordon Franklin & the Wilderness Ensemble performed, "Let the Franklin Flow" at the Stop The Drop nuclear disarmament concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.^[2][3] The ensemble included members of folk rock groups Goanna and Redgum, together with their mutual producer, Trevor Lucas.^[2] In April, "Let the Franklin Flow" was issued as a single with Lucas and Jeff Campbell as its producers.^[4] Shane Howard (of Goanna), the song's writer, was initially credited as F. River.^[1][5] The single reached No. 12 nationally.^[6] Proceeds supported the Tasmanian Wilderness Society's campaign against the proposed damming of Tasmania's Gordon and Franklin rivers for a hydroelectricity project.^[7][8] Howard physically supported the protests by joining the picket lines.^[7] The B-side of the single, "Franklin River – World Heritage", was written and recorded by the society's director, Bob Brown, who later became a senator and the leader of Australian Greens.^[3][9]

Track listing

7" WEA (7-259941)

Side A: "Let the Franklin Flow" - 3:30
Side B: "Franklin River - World Heritage" (credited to Bob Brown) - 2:40

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Let the Franklin Flow"

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6]	12

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Let the Franklin Flow"

Chart (1983)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10]	98

References

1. ""Let the Franklin Flow" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 19 August 2010.
2. Hogan, David; Kimball, Duncan (2002). "All Fired Up: Lost Treasures of Australian Music – Various artists". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
3. Gordon Franklin and the Wilderness Ensemble (1983). Let the Franklin Flow (Media notes). Melbourne: WEA. 7-259941.
4. Holmgren, Magnus; Pertout, Alex; Phillips, John; Baird, Paul; Howard, Shane. "Goanna". Australian Rock Database. Archived from the original on 24 February 2004. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
5. "'Let the Franklin Flow' [music] / by Gordon Franklin and the Wilderness Ensemble; music and lyrics by F. River". National Library of Australia. 1983. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Goanna". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
8. Swift, Brendan. "Goanna > Biography". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 11 March 2005. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
9. Havlicek, Irma (2010). "Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Greens : The 80s Are Back". Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
10. "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Imgur.com.