Ah for just_ one_ time_ I would take_ the North_-west 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 North_-west 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 North_-west 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 North_-west 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 before 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 North_-west 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 North_-west 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 North_-west 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 North_-west 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 North_-west 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 North_-west Passage_ to_ the sea__