A long way it is from Montana
To west Texas whether by hoof or by rail
A long way it is from Alzada
To innocence lost somewhere out on the trail
My heart is lonesome and longing
My comrades are gone on the first morning train
And my heart hears a boyhood hymn calling
From a church down the valley comes this old refrain
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals He's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me
Too many autumns I've watched 'em
Board trains with their plunder all headed for home
And too many autumns I've stayed here
To snap out the new ones 'fore winter comes on
And I wonder who's waiting for them
A sweetheart a lover a young wife with babe
But I know who's waiting for me
A mother and father who's hair has turned to gray
Come home come home
Wanderin' cowboy come home
Earnestly tenderly I hear them calling
My son it's time to come home
I've lingered long in this country
From high thunder basin to where rim lands start
And I've lingered too long a sinner
It's time that I pack up and follow my heart
A long way it is from Alzada
To a little sod house on the west Texas plains
A long way it is from Montana
But I'm going home on the next southbound train
A long way it is from Montana