Story Behind the Song
The Yukon Gold Rush of 1897 caused many fame and fortune seekers to head north to the fabled Klondike. The treacherous Chilkoot Trail had to be taken by most of these "stampeders". Crossing the mountain pass was the mark of courage, as they up north to stake their claim amongst throngs of fortune hunters and various dis-reputables.
Lyrics
There's gold-dust fever, where I'm travellin'
A cold old mountain that I'll climb.
There's a north wind blowin', in a valley,
By a brook so clear, I'll spend my time.
On the Chilkoot Mountain Trail,
With one more hill to go,
There's gold a'plenty and souls for sellin'
But there ain't no love . . . I know.
There's a rumour tellin', folks are yellin'
'bout a hidden river filled with gold!
And a poor man's riches, liquor spillin'
It's a tale of freedom . . . and I'm sold.
On the Chilkoot Mountain Trail,
The Klondike heavy haul
There's claims a'plenty and lives for sellin'
But there ain't no love . . . at all.
Well they stole my pack and took my saddle,
Left me out here, sure is cold!
There'll be no more gamblin', no more ramblin',
Frozen toes won't find no gold.
On the Chilkoot Mountain Trail,
The Klondike heavy haul
There's claims a'plenty and lives for sellin'
But there ain't no love . . . at all.
Guess I got lucky, just survivin'
Dawson graveyard's got no room
Twelve men got rich . . . out of sixty thousand.
Not too many go tback home.
On the Chilkoot Mountain Trail,
The Yukon river flows
There's demons a'plenty and death foretellin' . . .
But there ain't no gold. . . I know.
© 1989 John Spearn
|
lo fi play
hi fi play
email track to a friend
add to My.MP3