[Verse 1] I served the President, took his notes, learned the maps and the trade, Called on my childhood friend for the plans that we made. We left St. Louis in the spring of eighteen-four, Thirty-five trusted men pushing off from the shore. Fighting the Missouri, dragging boats against the tide, With a cannon on the bow and a compass at my side. [Verse 2] We kept strict military rule, kept the guard watches tight, Watching prairie dogs and buffalo in the morning light. Met the Oto and the Sioux, passed the peace pipes around, Trading gifts for safe passage on this native ground. And when a grizzly charged Meriwether out on the plain, He had to dive into the river just to live again! [Chorus] We are Lewis, we are Clark And we walked into the dark Mapping out a continent Leaving our mark Through the mountains and the rain Across the endless western plain We wrote the journal pages Just to prove we still remain [Verse 3] We wintered with the Mandan while the river turned to ice, Sent our journals back to Jefferson, full of notes and advice. When the thaw came in the spring, the Great Falls brought a shock— We had to leave our heavy boats and haul gear over rock. Then the Rockies hit the skyline, sharp and wild and tall, And we knew our simple portage wasn't happening at all. [Verse 4] Sacagawea saved our skin when the Shoshone drew near, Speaking her people's tongue, turning conflict into cheer. We bought thirty-nine horses, crossed the bitter mountain snow, Found the Snake and Columbia, where the heavy waters flow. By November eighteen-five, we heard the breaker waves roar— The Pacific Ocean stretched before us, wild upon the shore. [Bridge] No Navy ship was waiting, so we turned our boots back East, Living off the wilderness, hunting every beast. Two long years away from home, they swore that we were dead, But we cataloged the wild world and carried straight ahead! [Outro] Only one brave brother lost through two thousand miles of foam, In September eighteen-six, we brought the Corps back home. Yeah, we brought the Corps back home... From the Western Sea to home!
