Story Behind The Song

Originally inspired by a National Geographic article about the Al-Can Highway and the hardy souls who live along it. My wife liked the song so much that we named our daughter for the main character.

Song Description

A story song, self explanatory

Lyrics

WAY UP IN THE NORTHLAND
A FRENCHMAN TOOK A WIFE
A SOUTHERN GIRL IN TROUBLE
SO THEY SAID
AND FURTHER NORTH THEY PUSHED
IN SEARCH OF THEIR NEW LIFE
THEY BUILT A HOME
HE CARVED A BABY’S BED

THE NIGHT THE CHILD CAME
THE WOMAN DID NOT LIVE
THE FRENCHMAN’S GRIEF BROUGHTMADNESS
TO HIS EYES
BUT TENDERLY HE LAID
THE BABY IN HER CRIB
AND TURNED HIS FACE
UP TO THE BLAZING SKY

THE WIND BLOWS CLEAN AND COLD
OUT OF THE NORTH TONIGHT
AND THE SNOW AND ICE
STRETCH SOUTH
FOR A THOUSAND MILES
HE NAMED THE CHILD AURORA
FOR THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
HE COULD SEE THEM IN HER EYES
WHEN RORIE SMILED

THE FRENCHMAN LOVED THE WOMAN’S CHILD
HE RAISED HER AS HIS OWN
HER SMILES AND LAUGHTER FILLED
A DOZEN YEARS
TIL HER MOTHER’S FAMILY SENT THE LAW
TO FETCH HER HOME
AND THE LAST HE SAW OF RORIE
WAS HER TEARS


THE WIND BLOWS CLEAN AND COLD
OUT OF THE NORTH TONIGHT
AND THE SNOW AND ICE
STRETCH SOUTH
FOR A THOUSAND MILES
IN THE SKY ABOVE HIM
BURNED THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
HE COULD SEE THEM IN HER EYES.....


AURORA SELDOM SMILED
SHE NEVER SAW MUCH SNOW
IN THAT COLD AND LONELY MANSION
TO THE SOUTH
SO ON HER THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY
ALL SHE LEFT THEM WAS A NOTE
THAT SIMPLY SAID
“MY FATHER NEEDS ME NOW”

THE WIND BLOWS CLEAN AND COLD
OUT OF THE NORTH TONIGHT
AND THE SNOW AND ICE
STRETCH SOUTH FOR A THOUSAND MILES
AND IN THE SKY ABOVE THEM
BURNS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
HE CAN SEE THEM IN HER EYES
WHEN RORIE SMILES
HE CAN SEE THEM IN HER EYES
WHEN RORIE SMILES