Jim O’Rourke
North Country
[Judee]
(Ok listen to the words very carefully of this, the words are real good, the words are, you know...)

The North country is a rough country
And it mothers a bloody brood
Its icy arms hold hidden charms
For the wicked and the sinful and the lewd

The strong men rust from the gold and the lust
That sears the Nothland's soul
But the wickedest born from the Pole to the Horn
Is the hermit of Shark Tooth Shoal

Miles away in Keokuk, Iowa
Did a ruined maiden fight
To remove the smirch from the Baptist church
By bringing a heathens light

And the elders declared all would be squared
Should take the holy word
From our Keokuk home to the hell-town Nome
And save those sinful birds

Though two weeks later she took a freighter
For the gold cursed land near the poles
But a freighter ain't made for a gal that's betrayed
She was wrecked on Shark Tooth Shoal
He was hunting seal for his evening meal
He handled a mean harpoon
When he saw at his feet not something to eat
But a gal in a frozen swoon

So he held her hand in the dreadful land
And on her knees he rubbed gin
And to his surprise she opened up her eyes
And revealed her original sin

So he rode her to shore on a broken oar
Traded her to Dan Megrew
For a husky dog and a hot eggnog
As villains are want to do

Now ruthless Ruth is a maid uncouth
With painted cheeks and lips
She sings rough songs with the bawdy throngs
That come off the sealing ships

For a rouge-stained kiss from this infamous miss
The trade is seal-slick fur
Or a sable if they're able
Cuz it's all the same to her

The north country is a rough country
And it mothers a bloody brood
Its icy arms hold hidden charms
For the wicked and the sinful and the lewd
The strong men rust from the gold and the lust
That sears the Nothland's soul
But the wickedest born from the Pole to the Horn
Is the hermit of Shark Tooth Shoal