Story Behind The Song

A tale of the men who drive the herds of cattle across the Western Plains

Song Description

As he came into the firelight, his eyes were a cold sullen gray, his face an ashen white. After he settled down he sang his song

Lyrics

Great White Mountain ©2023 Creative InRoads, LLC

Prologue

It wasn't too far back, I was out in Wyoming, working on a cattle ranch. Me and cookie and three of the other boys been out for a week.

I remember that night. It was particularly cold, clear night. Stars, the stars were so bright. The fire was kicking up embers. We were all sitting around in our bedrolls trying to keep warm. When out in the distance came a rider.

He approached our fire. He said you mind I come warm myself. Cookie said you come down now. There's plenty of fire for all. And, when this rider came into the light I wanna tell you. It was a young man but I ain't never seen. But I ain't never seen a man so gray and cold in the eyes, stone white in the face.

And he was looking off, looking off in the horizon like he could see something none of us could see. And after a while, he started to sing this song.

Lyrics

If I were a great magician
Brother to the stars and to the sun
I would cast my troubles from my soul
Yes I would turn them all to stone
And I would roll them all away
Yes I would roll them all away
I would cast my troubles from my soul
Turn them to stone and I would roll away

If I were a simple sailor
Brother to the wind and to the sea
I would cast my net upon the sky
I would turn them all to gold
And I would follow the sun away
Yes I would follow the sun away
I would cast my net upon the ground
Turn them to gold and I would follow away

If I were a great musician
Brother to words we never sing
I would cast my dreams upon the ground
Yes I would turn them all to seed
Then I would die-ei away
Yes I would die-ei away
I would cast my dreams upon the ground
Turn them to seed and I would die away

Epilogue
With that he got up, mounted his horse. Before he could ride off I said wait a minute young man. What has gotten into your soul? And where are you going? Where've you been?

And he pointed to that horizon again. He said out there, out there mister. The Great White Mountain. That's where I'm going.

Lyric

Great White Mountain of sadness.
Painted a long, cold winter's white.
Well, its rocks are gray and cold
The rocks they got no soul
And I just can't climb no more
I just can't climb no more
Whoa-oh I believe
I've been reachin' too high

- We never saw him again. . .