Pine Ridge Trail

I woke up with mud on my boots

And a map folded soft in my hand

You laughed when I missed the first turn

Then you pointed me back to the land

The pines leaned over the path

Like old friends making room

And the river kept time at my side

While the ridge line opened up soon

We climbed where the air got thin

And the sky turned sharp and blue

I said I could stop right there

You said, "Come on through"

Open trail, open trail

Take me higher, take me far

Open trail, open trail

We can follow every scar

Open trail, open trail

Through the rock and the snow and the rain

Open trail, open trail

Lead me home the hard way again

We crossed that fallen white pine

With our packs and our scraped-up knees

Found a boot print by the switchback

And a note in the bark of the trees

You shared your last orange slice

I drank from a steel canteen

Then the valley rolled out below us

Like a quilt sewn in green

We climbed where the air got thin

And the sky turned sharp and blue

I said I could stop right there

You said, "Come on through"

Open trail, open trail

Take me higher, take me far

Open trail, open trail

We can follow every scar

Open trail, open trail

Through the rock and the snow and the rain

Open trail, open trail

Lead me home the hard way again

If the path bends out of sight

And the clouds lean low and gray

We'll keep one foot in the morning

And one foot out ahead of the day

Open trail, open trail

Take me higher, take me far

Open trail, open trail

We can follow every scar

Open trail, open trail

Through the rock and the snow and the rain

Open trail, open trail

Lead me home the hard way again

Open trail

Open trail