Green Heart

[Verse 1]
I met her years ago one summer
She was working at a church camp up the Boulder River
It was the first time I felt that aching wonder
It was the first time I felt I want to quiver
I went home for summer football
She went back to Fallon County
She was the only thing I thought about
Every minute every day
I tried to write her letters
I tried to keep her near me
But every time she wrote back
She was was farther away

[Verse 2]
I played my last game in a loss against White Sulphur
I went home that night
And I got ready for a ride
Packed some clothes and some blankets in a thirty gallon garbage bag
Was out before the daylight
With the barn door open wide

[Chorus]
From Stanford down through Harlow
Past Baker to the North Dakota line
I rode my sorrel gelding
And I'll follow this green heart of mine

[Verse 3]
Big ponderosas the sweetness of the cottonwoods
Beauty of a sunrise over miles and miles of sage
Antelope and mule deer, white tail, and a touch of fear
A sea of prairie grasses
And a thousand birds of prey

[Verse 4]
Found pasture for my horse just out of Baker
Took a room there for the night
Washed some clothes, shaved my face
I bought some roses at a florist there next morning
Asked for directions and I rode out to her place

[Verse 5]
I found her house and tied my pony to a tree
Ran fingers through my hair
As I walked to the door
There she stood, I could see it wasn't good
She gave a nervous laugh
Said, "what did you come here for?"

[Chorus]
From Stanford down through Harlow
Past Baker to the North Dakota line
I rode my sorrel gelding
And I'll follow this green heart of mine

[Verse 6]
Stopped at a ranch on Powder River
I'd spend the night there on my way through
I called my father
Said "bring the horse trailer
I wish to God I'd listened to you"

[Verse 7]
Nineteen days across Montana
There was frost on every morning in that damn November wind
All of my life to do without her
And 400 miles just to turn back again