When the Ice Worms Nest Again

Alaska

People who live in Alaska are known to be very hardy and independent.  Many of these Alaskan natives enjoy “telling tales” to visitors from the lower states about life in Alaska.  This song written by Robert Service teases us with exaggerated beliefs about what life is like in Alaska .

Lyrics:

1.  There’s a husky, dusky maiden in the Arctic,
     And she waits for me but it is not in vain,
     For some day Ill put my mukluks on and ask her
     If she’ll wed me when the ice worms nest again.

Refrain:          In the land of the pale blue snow
                        Where it’s ninety-nine below,
                        And the polar bears are roamin’ oe’r the plain,
                        In the shadow of the Pole
                        I will clasp her to my soul
                        We’ll be happy when the ice worms nest again.

2.  For our wedding feast we’ll have seal oil and blubber;
     In our kayaks we will roam the bounding main;
     All the walruses will look at us and rubber,
     We’ll be married when the ice worms nest again.  (Refrain)

3.  And when the blinken icebergs bound around us,
     She’ll present me with a bouncing baby boy;
     All the polar bears will dance a rumba ‘round us,
     And the walruses will click their teeth with joy.  (Refrain)

4.  When some night at half-past two I return to my igloo,
     After sitting with a friend who was in pain,
     She’ll be waiting for me there with the hambone of a bear,
     And she’ll beat me till the ice worms next again.  (Refrain)  

                                                              Composed by Robert Service