oldes' warrior of de Sioux Kill hese'f dancin' de w'ole night t'roo, An de Blackfoot girl remember too De ole tam Voyageur. 

On de wigwam of de Cree—

W'en de soun' of hees voice dey hear—

De ole tam Voyageur.

 "De blaze of hees camp on de snow I see, An' I lissen hees 'En Roulant' On de lan' w'ere de reindeer travel free, Ringin' out strong an' clear— Offen de grey wolf sit before De light is come from hees open door, An' caribou foller along de shore De song of de Voyageur. 

An' I lissen hees 'En Roulant'

Ringin' out strong an' clear—

De song of de Voyageur.

 "If he only kip goin', de red ceinture,[4] I 'd see it upon de Pole Some mornin' I 'm startin' upon de tour For blowin' de worl' aroun'— But w'erever he sail an' w'erever he ride, De trail is long an' de trail is wide, An' city an' town on ev'ry side Can tell of hees campin' groun'." 

I 'd see it upon de Pole

For blowin' de worl' aroun'—

Can tell of hees campin' groun'."

 So dat 's 'de reason I drink to-night To de man of de Grand Nor' Wes', For hees heart was young, an' hees heart was light So long as he 's leevin' dere— I 'm proud of de sam' blood in my vein I 'm a son of de Nort' Win' wance again— So we 'll fill her up till de bottle 's drain An' drink to de Voyageur. 

To de man of de Grand Nor' Wes',

So long as he 's leevin' dere—

An' drink to de Voyageur.

 

 [1] New Year's day. 

 [2] Indian boot. 

 [3] Dog-sleigh. 

 Prev. P 6/88 next