How Long?

As long as lure o' placer gold         Brings North the best ye breed,     As long as tales of camps and trails         Are planted with your seed,     As long as red blood courses thru         And warms adventure's sons,     They'll sally forth, bound for the North,         Misfortune's chosen ones.     As long as snow slides claim their toll         And glaciers split and rend,     And sweepers turn the flimsy craft         And trails come to an end;     As long as flashing Northern Lights         Flame in the Arctic sky,     Your boldest ones, your bravest sons         Come North to win or die.     As long as lust of wealth obtains         And gold will buy all things,     And bank accounts but mark the line         'Twixt shovel stiffs and kings;     As long as fancy rides free reined         And distant fields seem fair,     They'll seek the ship and make the trip         To the land of Do and Dare.     As long as birds mate in the spring         And moose run in the fall,     And widows win the college youth         And hold his heart in thrall;     As long as chance for fortune's smile         Can be centered in one throw,     This is the truth, the Nation's youth         Will hear the call and go.     As long as water runs down hill         And smoke goes up from fire;     As long as pleasure precedes pain         And women love for hire;     As long as Klondike widows         Trail thru Outside Cafs     Some one must stick on the lonesome creek         For there's ever the "him" that pays.     As long as "huskies" curse the moon         And creeks remain unnamed;     As long as quicksands mask the bar         And there's placer ground unclaimed;     As long as "pay" is found and staked         By some deep-sea-going Swede,     That gypsy trace that marks our race         Will out, then we stampede.