Ah, for just one time, I would take the Northwest Passage To find the hand of Franklin, Reaching for the Beaufort Sea. Tracing one warm line, Through a land so wide and savage, and Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

Westward from the Davis Strait, 'Tis there was said to lie, The sea route to the Orient, For which so many died, Seeking gold and glory, Leaving weathered broken bones, and A long forgotten lonely cairn of stones.

Ah, for just one time, I would take the Northwest Passage To find the hand of Franklin, Reaching for the Beaufort Sea. Tracing one warm line, Through a land so wide and savage, and Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

Three centuries there - after, I take passage over land, In the footsteps of brave Kelso, Where his "sea of flowers" be - gan. Watching cities rise be - fore me, Then be - hind me sink a - gain, This tardiest ex - plorer, Driving hard, a - cross the plains.

Ah, for just one time, I would take the Northwest Passage To find the hand of Franklin, Reaching for the Beaufort Sea. Tracing one warm line, Through a land so wide and savage, and Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

And through the night be - hind the wheel, The mileage clicking west, I think upon Mac - kenzie, David Thompson, and the rest, Who cracked the mountain ramparts, and Did show a path for me, To race the roaring Fraser, to the sea.

Ah, for just one time, I would take the Northwest Passage To find the hand of Franklin, Reaching for the Beaufort Sea. Tracing one warm line, Through a land so wide and savage, and Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.

How then am I so different, From the first men through this way, Like them, I left a settled life, I threw it all a - way, To seek a Northwest Passage, At the call of many men, To find there, but the road back home a - gain.

Ah, for just one time, I would take the Northwest Passage To find the hand of Franklin, Reaching for the Beaufort Sea. Tracing one warm line, Through a land so wide and savage, and Make a Northwest Passage, to the sea.