Squaws Along The Yukon
Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys Lyrics


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There's a salmon colored girl who sets my heart a whirl
Who lives along the Yukon far away
Where the northern lights they shine she rubs her nose to mine
She cuddles close and I can hear her say

Ooga ooga mooska, which means that I love you
If you'll be my baby, I'll ooga ooga mooska you
Then I take her hand in mine and set her on my knee
The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me

She makes her underwear from hides of grizzly bear
And bathes in ice cold water every day
Her skin I love to touch but I just can't touch it much
Because her fur lined parka's in the way

Ooga ooga mooska, which means that I love you
If you'll be my baby, I'll ooga ooga mooska you
Then I take her hand in mine and set her on my knee
The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me

She has the air corps down the sourdoughs hang around
Chechakos try to date her night and day
With a landing gear that's fine and a fuselage divine
And a smile that you can see a mile away

Ooga ooga mooska, which means that I love you
If you'll be my baby, I'll ooga ooga mooska you
Then I take her hand in mine and set her on my knee
The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me

Carry me back to old Alaska
The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me

Overall Meaning

The song "Squaws Along the Yukon" by Hank Thompson and His Brazos Valley Boys is a Western swing tune that tells a humorous story about a man's love for a woman who lives along the Yukon River in Alaska. The woman is described as a salmon-colored girl who wears her undergarments made from the hides of a grizzly bear and bathes in ice-cold water every day. The singer tries to express his love for her, but he cannot touch her skin because of her fur-lined parka.


The chorus of the song features the woman saying "Ooga ooga mooska," which the singer claims is a phrase that means "I love you." He retorts by saying "If you'll be my baby, I'll ooga ooga mooska you" and takes her hand and sets her on his knee. The singer proclaims that the "squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me" and reflects on the woman's admirers, including the "air corps down the sourdoughs" and "chechakos," who try to win her over.


The song's lyrics are a humorous portrayal of a man's fascination with a unique and beautiful woman who lives in an unconventional region. It captures the imagination of listeners with its colorful descriptions of the woman and the rugged Alaskan territory she hails from. Overall, the song's upbeat Western swing sound and lighthearted lyrics make it a classic example of the genre.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a salmon colored girl who sets my heart a whirl
I am enamored with a girl who lives in a distant land along the Yukon River


Who lives along the Yukon far away
She resides in a remote area in Yukon


Where the northern lights they shine she rubs her nose to mine
We share intimate moments under the Aurora Borealis


She cuddles close and I can hear her say
We snuggle and she whispers sweet nothings in my ear


Ooga ooga mooska, which means that I love you
She proclaims her love in her native tongue


If you'll be my baby, I'll ooga ooga mooska you
If I become her partner, she'll continue to express her love for me


Then I take her hand in mine and set her on my knee
I hold her hand and sit her on my lap


The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me
I am content with the women who live along the Yukon River


She makes her underwear from hides of grizzly bear
She creates her undergarments from the skin of grizzly bears


And bathes in ice cold water every day
She bathes daily in frigid water


Her skin I love to touch but I just can't touch it much
Although I desire to touch her skin, her parka made of fur prevents much physical contact


Because her fur lined parka's in the way
The outerwear she wears obstructs my ability to touch her skin


She has the air corps down the sourdoughs hang around
The air corps and sourdoughs are attracted to her


Chechakos try to date her night and day
Chechakos ask her out continually throughout the day and night


With a landing gear that's fine and a fuselage divine
She possesses good physical attributes


And a smile that you can see a mile away
She has a radiant smile that can be seen from great distances


Carry me back to old Alaska
Take me back to the land of Alaska where I can be close to my love


The squaws along the Yukon are good enough for me
I am satisfied with the indigenous women of the Yukon River area




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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