North Country

[Judee]

(Ok listen to the words very carefully of this, the words are real good, the words are, you know...)

The North country is a rough country

And it mothers a bloody brood

Its icy arms hold hidden charms

For the wicked and the sinful and the lewd

The strong men rust from the gold and the lust

That sears the Nothland's soul

But the wickedest born from the Pole to the Horn

Is the hermit of Shark Tooth Shoal

Miles away in Keokuk, Iowa

Did a ruined maiden fight

To remove the smirch from the Baptist church

By bringing a heathens light

And the elders declared all would be squared

Should take the holy word

From our Keokuk home to the hell-town Nome

And save those sinful birds

Though two weeks later she took a freighter

For the gold cursed land near the poles

But a freighter ain't made for a gal that's betrayed

She was wrecked on Shark Tooth Shoal

He was hunting seal for his evening meal

He handled a mean harpoon

When he saw at his feet not something to eat

But a gal in a frozen swoon

So he held her hand in the dreadful land

And on her knees he rubbed gin

And to his surprise she opened up her eyes

And revealed her original sin

So he rode her to shore on a broken oar

Traded her to Dan Megrew

For a husky dog and a hot eggnog

As villains are want to do

Now ruthless Ruth is a maid uncouth

With painted cheeks and lips

She sings rough songs with the bawdy throngs

That come off the sealing ships

For a rouge-stained kiss from this infamous miss

The trade is seal-slick fur

Or a sable if they're able

Cuz it's all the same to her

The north country is a rough country

And it mothers a bloody brood

Its icy arms hold hidden charms

For the wicked and the sinful and the lewd

The strong men rust from the gold and the lust

That sears the Nothland's soul

But the wickedest born from the Pole to the Horn

Is the hermit of Shark Tooth Shoal