“North to Alaska” is a 1960 hit song recorded by Johnny Horton which featured in the movie of the same name. Though Horton had sung several popular movie tie-in songs, this was the first one that was sung over the opening titles.
The song’s lyrics during the opening titles of the film provide a back story for the point where the film begins: Sam McCord left Seattle in 1892 with George and Billy Pratt, “crossed the Yukon river” and “found the bonanza gold below that old white mountain just a little southeast of Nome.” By “1901” Sam was known as “a mighty man,” and his partner George then tells him, “I’d trade all the gold that’s buried in this land for one small band of gold to place on sweet little Jenny’s hand.” George feels that Jenny is his “true love,” and he declares he will “build for my Jenny a honeymoon home” below the same mountain where gold was discovered. An instrumental of the song is also played at the saloon on a piano when Sam and Angel arrive in Nome.
Written by Jimmy Driftwood, “North to Alaska” topped Billboard magazine’s Country Singles chart,reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and eight on Norway Singles Chart.Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
Horton died in an automobile accident 5 November 1960 shortly after the song was released.
B-side “Mansion You Stole”
Released August 22, 1960
Recorded August 9, 1960
Genre Country
Length 2:48
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Johnny Horton, Tillman Franks
Producer(s) Don Law
Johnny Horton – North To Alaska lyrics
Way up north to Alaska, way up north to Alaska
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
Big Sam left Seattle in the year of ’92
With George Pratt his partner and brother Billy too
They crossed the Yukon River and found a bonanza gold
Below that old white mountain, just a little southeast of Nome
Sam crossed the majestic mountains to the valleys far below
He talked to his team of huskies as he mushed on through the snow
With the Northern Lights a runnin’ wild in the Land of the Midnight Sun
Yes, Sam McCord was a mighty man in the year of nineteen-one
Where the river is winding, big nuggets they’re finding
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
Way up north to Alaska, way up north to Alaska
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
George turned to Sam with his gold in his hand
Said, “Sam you’re a lookin’ at a lonely, lonely man
I’d trade all the gold that’s buried in this land
For one small band of golden place on sweet little Jenny’s hand
‘Cause a man needs a woman to love him all the time
Remember Sam a true love is so hard to find
I’d build for my Jenny a honeymoon home
Below that old white mountain just a little southeast of Nome”
Where the river is windin’, big nuggets they’re findin’
North to Alaska, we’ve gone north, the rush is on
North to Alaska, we’ve gone north, the rush is on
Way up north to Alaska, way up north to Alaska
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
North to Alaska, go north, the rush is on
