From the recording Mushing Dogs With Jim Lanier
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Jim Lanier has been mushing dog teams in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since 1979. When I wrote this song in 2010 Jim had finished every Iditarod he had started. Since then, he's had to scratch a time or two because of overwhelming circumstances, so I'm going to have to retool some of the lyrics. (Thanks for screwing up a good song, Jim.) In 2018 he will be on the trail at the age of 77! Jim's trademark is his all-white dog team that he trains at his Northern Whites Kennel in Chugiak, AK. I just felt like it was high time Jim became a folk hero.
Lyrics
© 2010 Hurricane Dave (BMI) Well he ran his first Iditarod in 1979 Now he’s run it for the umpteenth time at the age of 69 He’s broken more bones than Evel Knievel, and he’s lost a toe or two But he always finishes, he’s never scratched; yeah his team always comes through. So if I’m late for dinner, don’t holler at me dear I’m training to be a winner; yeah I’m out mushing dogs with Jim Lanier He trains his all-white dog team in the woods of Chugiak He’s taught a lot of puppies to gee and haw down by the railroad tracks You’ll see him lend a helping hand when a youngster gets his start His love for the sport is something that he sure likes to impart. So if I’m late for dinner, don’t holler at me dear I’m training to be a winner; yeah I’m out mushing dogs with Jim Lanier Lanier’s made a million memories and relates many a tale Like the time a flock of chickens lured his team off of the trail A dozen dogs stuck in a coop in a scene that was most wacky A few hens wound up fricasseed, and Jim lost two hours to Mackey. So if I’m late for dinner, don’t holler at me dear I’m training to be a winner; yeah I’m out mushing dogs with Jim Lanier At the end of each Iditarod Jim performs a special song Perhaps next year he’ll do this one, and we all can sing along. So if I’m late for dinner, don’t holler at me dear I’m training to be a winner; yeah I’m out mushing dogs with Jim Lanier (Recitation) Jim says once we finish the Iditarod we can turn around and do the Doratidi. That’s Iditarod spelled backwards. The idea is to start in Nome and race all the way back to Anchorage. Of course he didn’t tell me if that means the dogs have to run backwards – not really clear on that. Anyway, baby, I’m out mushing dogs with Jim Lanier. I’ll see you later on.