[Verse 1 – Taylor] Man with a map in a Springfield bar Swore he knew a quicker way Never walked it with a wagon But the ink looked fine in the light of day So we cut through the Wasatch, axes swinging Thirty days to clear one week Salt flat swallowed up the oxen By the time we saw the peaks [Pre – both] And the sky went gray in October Gray like it knew our names [Chorus – full band, both] Take no cutoffs Hurry along Snow to the eaves and the trail is gone Don’t ask the cook, don’t lift the lid Don’t ask the children what the grown folks did Take no cutoffs Hurry along [Verse 2 – Dani] Boiled the hides till they turned to glue Spooned it to the little ones, told ’em it was stew Mr. Breen writes the weather down Writes the names when they go in the ground Fifteen strapped on snowshoes, walked off in the white Seven made it out the other side Nobody asked them how Nobody’s asking me now [Pre – both] And the fire burned low in the cabin Low like it knew our names [Chorus] [Bridge] (Dani, half-time) George can’t stand and I won’t leave him Tell my girls I’m close behind (Taylor) Third relief took the girls and ran Said spring would bring another man (Both, fast) April thaw, the fourth crew in One man left where the rest had been Kettle’s warm and the fire’s fed Asked about the lady, he shook his head Leave the kettle, leave the tracks Name a pass for the ones who don’t come back [Final Chorus] [Outro – Dani alone] They named the lake They named the pass They named the road you drive on Fast as you can past the place we
