The 1960 song “North to Alaska” by Johnny Horton is featured in the movie of the same name and in the Top 100 Western songs of all time. Tillman Franks and Mike Phillips wrote the piece, and Johnny released it in his album Greatest Hits.
The song peaked at the top of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and Canadian charts. It also took the 4th spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also entered the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 10 and the Australia Singles Chart at 2.
The album Johnny Horton’s Greatest Hits landed at the number 8 spot on the US Billboard Hot 200, getting a platinum certification from the RIAA.
Meaning Behind the Song
“North to Alaska” is one of Johnny Horton’s songs that became his most tremendous success in 1960, the other one being “Sink the Bismarck.”
Johnny Horton‘s “North to Alaska” is featured in the movie of the same name as the opening song. The music was set as the introductory piece for the plot and the film’s characters.
The song’s lyrics hint at the film’s events as it began. Sam left Seattle with George Pratt and Billy. They crossed the Yukon River, where they found a lot of gold below a mountain southeast of Nome.
As the men found the gold, George told Sam how he would trade the gold in this mountain in exchange for a band of gold to give to his true love, Jenny. Since George felt that Jenny was the one for him, he declared he’ll build a home for himself and Jenny in the same mountain where they found the gold in the first place.
Check out Johnny’s hit song right here.
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Johnny Horton