Recently the kids from Shaktoolik made this great video for the FUN song “Some Nights”. I really enjoyed it for two reasons. First I am really loving the song right now, blasting it in the truck singing along to my own version (more on this later).

And second, because I had never actually seen Shaktoolik, an Iditarod checkpoint, without it being windy. OK windy is an understatement,  think epic winds with the ability to chill bare skin in seconds or literally blow you over. Shaktoolik is known for its winds, as you come out of the hills and head out onto the flat expanse of trail, you are assaulted by them; well at least I was the two times I have made the trip.

It is also known for the huge inside composting toilet, you can read more at the end of this Teacher on the Trail blog post. Click on the image for a large scale image of a large scale loo.  But I digress… Back to the video made by the middle school students of Shaktoolik, all 16 of them.

Enjoy the students version, mine will follow~

Here is my version ~

Many of you already know I am blessed with an over-active imagination. Which is a great asset IMHO. One of the ways I entertain myself on those long runs with the dogs, along with daydreaming about Johnny Depp *Er* I mean Dan Kaduce, is to make up my own lyrics to songs. Recently I have crafted mushing lyrics to Some Nights. Corny? yes. Silly? Oh yeah. Some places kinda have creative rhythm? of coarse, fitting lyrics is tricky. But here we go, for your entertainment, a look at what I do in my head for entertainment when I have hours to pass.

Some Nights – mushers lyrics
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck; some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my legs could run the whole trail
Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off
But I still wake up, I still face the trail
And if you want to know what I run for
What do I run for? What do I run for?
Most nights, it’s the dogs…

This is it, kids, this is war – what we’ve been training for
Why don’t we hit the trail already?
I was never one to believe the hype –
just trying to do whats right
love my dogs and  always smile,
they come again to jack my style
That’s alright (that’s alright).
If I don’t sleep  in my bed tonight.
Stops my mind from wondering what if I didn’t try,
a-a-a-am, oh if I didn’t try, m-mm, m-mm.

Well, some nights I wish that this all would end
‘Cause I could use some sleep for a change
And some nights I’m scared you’ll forget out there
Some nights in my dreams I win
But I still wake up, I still face the coast
And if you want to know what I run for
What do I run for? What do I run for?
I know, its the dogs

So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Froze my hands and cried for this?
I miss my mom and Dan for this?
When I see stars, when I see stars, how great they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a Howl, so come on
Oh, come on. HOOOWL~

Rested kids, fed and all – few hours pass and we’re off again
Ten days of this, I’m not sure if anybody understands
This run is not for the folks back home; I love you all but we travel alone
You know you don’t want to be stuck out here, traveling through a winter storm.
My heart is bursting for my team dogs and the power they put out
And when I look into my lead dogs eyes…
Man, you wouldn’t believe the most amazing things you can do…
When You Really Try

The other night, you wouldn’t believe the northern lights that danced over me
Blows you mind the things that you see
The price we pay is distance
The price we pay is distance…

Hope y’all enjoyed the Eskimo and Musher versions of “Some Nights”. And FUN if you happen to read this blog, I really think we should record this version as a fundraiser for Dew Claw Kennel. I can do the vocals!
*yeah that same over-active imagination lets me believe I sound amazing when I sing. A cross between Pink and the Indigo Girls. But I fear it may not be the case; if I get to singing to loudly on the back of the sled the team stages a mutiny. Guess some things are better left in your head.