A paean to the doctors who fly into the remote regions of Alaska to treat people, especially children. Originally, I was going to have the doctor perish in a tragic plane crash in the last verse, but Jill ("Roadie") and Josh ganged up on me and talked me out of it.

Lyrics

© 2010 Hurricane Dave (BMI)

Their daddy was a pediatrician
Once a month he’d fly in his small plane
To see children in remote villages
“They have no doctor,” he explained.
“I have to go and treat their pain.”

His own kids would miss him at breakfast
Till night when Mom tucked them in bed.
He’d call when he could get a connection
And encourage them to look ahead
And remind them of what he always said:

“When the sun goes down on Cook Inlet
"And turns the Chugach Mountains pink
“I’ll be flying back to you from Kotzebue
“My love for you will never shrink
"I’ll be home much sooner than you think.”

Nukka needs a vaccination
Takubvik’s got a bad chest cold
Tiquana was bitten by a rabid wolf
To these children in the Bush he’s good as gold
And his own kids recall what they were told:

“When the sun goes down on Cook Inlet
"And turns the Chugach Mountains pink
“I’ll be flying back to you from Kotzebue
“My love for you will never shrink
"I’ll be home much sooner than you think.”

A blizzard bore down on the airstrip
The day he left Unalakleet
From Kobuk to Cold Bay all the children prayed
A safe flight their doctor would complete
As they sang this song so soft and sweet:

“When the sun goes down on Cook Inlet
"And turns the Chugach Mountains pink
“We’ll be grateful to you for all you do
“Our love for you will never shrink
"You’ll be home much sooner than you think.”

“Oh, when the sun goes down on Cook Inlet
"And turns the Chugach Mountains pink
“I’ll be flying back to you from Kotzebue
“My love for you will never shrink
"I’ll be home much sooner than you think
“I’ll be home much sooner than you think
“I’ll be home much sooner than you think.”