Story Behind the Song
Formed in 1783, The Northwest Company of Montreal took their fur trading enterprise to the far reaches of hinterland Canada. Many a hardy Nor'wester outpost clerk came from the "old country" to the far reaches of the wilderness, only to find that after serving their "three years", there was no real hope of return from their station . . . they would have to stay and live out their lives. Many intermarried with aboriginals, which resulted in large populations of Metis, who later became a major political group.
The Northwest Company merged with The Hudson's Bay Company in 1821.
Lyrics
I'm here in the bush, in no-man's-land, for the Northwest Company.
In an evergreen forest in my trading shack, the river is all I see.
It's been three long years and 17 months since I left Montreal,
And I don't know when I'll ever get back, can't leave in summer or fall.
These native lads are fine hunters, they taught a Scot a thing or two,
But if not for my fiddle this loneliness would break my heart, it's true.
There's a native lass who came in with the Cree, they want to trade her to me,
But I'm still not sure if she wants to stay, she's scared to leave, you see.
The last I heard and for all I know, it's 1793
I'm here in the bush in no-man's-land
For the Northwest Company
For the Northwest Company.
Well it's 18 years since I left bonnie Glasgow for this cursed life I've known,
Now I'm much too old to travel that river, so it's here I'll cut my stone.
The Voyageur crew, that in June were due, should be here in a week or two,
For the ice was late and the weather's been hell, and another cursed winter is due.
The last I heard and for all I know, it's 1793
I'm here in the bush in no-man's-land
For the Northwest Company
For the Northwest Company.
I'm here in the bush in no-man's-land . . . for the Northwest Company.
© words and music by John Spearn
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