- Hey Mark, how's it going?

- Good Ernie, you ready?

- I am.

(upbeat acoustic music) - Let her rip.

♪ I've been riding the trail ♪ so long I'm feeling old ♪ ♪ Memories keep hanging ♪ on I can't let them go ♪ ♪ Old Montana you've ♪ stolen my songs ♪ ♪ And your winters are cold ♪ ♪ And now I'm trailing ♪ back to ole Mexico ♪ ♪ Where the weather's warm ♪ - Old hats at the wagon gate debating about the trail.

These cow folks tempt fate while others ship by rail.

Boats that are made for workin', trousers old and worn, coffee's near perking, wake up, it's nearly morn.

The crew begins assembling, the ramuda coming in.

Dirty horse ground trembling, let dawns long rise begin.

♪ I'm entering in ♪ a border town ♪ ♪ Going seems like you're gone ♪ ♪ And I told her that ♪ I was off to Montana ♪ ♪ How I loved her so ♪ ♪ Cowboys life can be ♪ lonesome and hard ♪ ♪ Times when the ♪ nights are long ♪ ♪ Sing a slowly round ♪ a lone star herd ♪ ♪ Sleepin' on the ground ♪ The trail boss bellows, "Wake up!"

And the cook clangs with his metal spoon, "Fill your bellies boys, ain't no rest til noon."

Old bones they are aching, the youngins are quick to chow.

"You want some of this here bacon?

"Ya better get it now."

First morsel of the new dawn, sleep rubbed from their eyes, breakfast grub quick gone, a hungry bunch of guys.

The leathers are a creakin' as we coo to our mouths.

The campfire like a beacon, as the sun begins moons trounce.

♪ I met her in a border town ♪ ♪ Though it seems ♪ like years ago ♪ ♪ And I told her that ♪ I was off to Montana ♪ ♪ But she wouldn't go ♪ ♪ I got my saddle and ♪ a good horse to ride ♪ ♪ I'll be crossing ♪ the great divide ♪ ♪ All the hostiles will chase ♪ me and rivers will rise ♪ ♪ But I'll be makin' good time ♪ ♪ Three-thousand ♪ miles to mexico ♪ ♪ Yeah the trail is long ♪ ♪ But I'll never ever ♪ push cattle no more ♪ ♪ Adios mi amigos I'm gone ♪ "Tighten up that cinch, let's tuck them bed rolls in."

I listen to morning orders, I take a pinch from a little tin.

"Rust and Joe, you ride flank.

"Henry, you got drag."

"Oh shucks boss, I know them boys got rank, "but all I'll do is gag."

"I ain't got no time for favorites son, "so keep your rag on high, "don't let none get around the end.

"Out here they'll up and die."

So up into the foot hills and down the valleys wide, river crossin' test the wills of riding side by side.

I don't think we lost one, that's a dang good thing.

Morning's nearly over, some them old boys begin to sing.

♪ Ole Montana you've ♪ stolen my songs ♪ ♪ And your winters are cold ♪ ♪ But now turn back ♪ to ole Mexico where the weather's warm ♪ "Let's pull up here and take a rest, "give them bovine a break.

"Richard, check up over that crest, "the trail should sorta snake."

Jerky and a biscuit's what you get for chuck, maybe a swig of lukewarm coffee if you're quick and in luck.

The afternoon across a former prairie, sand dry to the bone, the wind whipped our butts that day, wore down my quarter roan.

Cows too tired for bawling, horses with shut eye, fire, stare, sleep a calling under dark and starry sky.

Again, we come to nightfall, fed then fall towards sleep.

The coyotes howling night call, cow pokes in a heap.

(Ernie yodeling)