Inspired by Denali National Park and Preserve, June 2017
When visiting Denali, everyone wants a peek of the highest mountain in North America. Unfortunately, the clouds don’t always cooperate and you’re left imagining the view while considering the complicated history of how the mountain’s name has been changed over time.
NPT021: “The High One”
Videos
08/26/2017
Home recording after I finalized on a song structure.
Lyrics
“The High One”
Written by Kendall Bruns
[Intro]
Oh Denali, Denali
Why do you hide from me?
I came all this way just to see you today
Is my only chance to see you
Denali, Oh Denali
Please reveal yourself to me
Don’t be coy and let me enjoy
As you present your majesty
[Chorus]
Denali, AKA McKinley
Whatever you call it
It’s the high one you can see
Denali used to be McKinley
To Russians, “Great Mountain”
On a clear day you’ll agree
[Verse 1]
The Athabaskan name of Denali
Was changed because of gold to McKinley
The park name was changed again in 1980
But the mountain name remained McKinley
On maps but it’s hard to get everyone to agree
How and when things are named can be a complicated thing
But to most it’s called Denali since 2015
[Chorus]
Denali, AKA McKinley
Whatever you call it
It’s the high one you can see
Denali used to be McKinley
To Russians, “Great Mountain”
On a clear day you’ll agree
[Verse 2]
Unless it’s cloudy it isn’t hard to see
20,310 feet It’s the high one, it’s the high one
The high one you can see
[Outro]
Oh Denali, Denali
Why do you hide from me?
I came all this way just to see you today
Is my only chance to see you
Denali, Oh Denali
Please reveal yourself to me
Don’t be coy and let me enjoy
As you present your majesty
Field Recordings
07.02.2017
The intro part of the song with an obscured Denali in the background.
07/01/2017
Recorded along the Nenana River. Still figuring out time signatures.
06/29/2017
A permit was obtained from the NPS for the creation and use of these recordings.
Trailsongs by Kendall Bruns 