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