[Short guitar intro — vocal enters quickly] [Verse 1] Went west to L.A. To see what I could see, Found chrome, smoke, and neon And a thousand ways to bleed. From Rodeo to Runyon Canyon, Every mouth had a tale, Dragging dreams through traffic Like a rusted ball and chain. [Pre-Chorus] But a homesick fire’s in my bones For the place I used to know, Where the peaks catch fire at daybreak And the cold creek waters flow. [Chorus] Take me where the mountain girls rule, Where the moon burns bright and the night air’s cool, Up through the holler, past the black ridgeline, Where the clocks quit ticking and the stars keep time. Those mountain girls don’t bend or bow, They’ll cut you straight when the sun goes down, Take me where the mountain girls rule, Maybe that’s where I’ll save my soul. [Guitar turnaround] [Verse 2] Those mountain girls up in the holler Speak their minds like a rifle crack, They’ll give you sugar, give you thunder, Then tell you when you’re off the track. Pull your boots across the floorboards When the six-string starts to howl, They don’t dance for any crowd— They dance because they know how. [Pre-Chorus] No velvet ropes, no painted grins, No mask to hide behind, Just a fire throwing sparks at the stars And her hand locked into mine. [Chorus] Take me where the mountain girls rule, Where the moon burns bright and the night air’s cool, Up through the holler, past the black ridgeline, Where the clocks quit ticking and the stars keep time. Those mountain girls don’t bend or bow, They’ll cut you straight when the sun goes down, Take me where the mountain girls rule, Maybe that’s where I’ll save my soul. [Bridge — Spoken, Guitars Building] Come on, girl… We’re headed up there, baby. Leave those city lights to burn. There’s a full moon hooked above the ridgeline, And I know where I belong when the wheels turn. [Guitars begin building] [Breakdown] I hear that holler calling, Hear it rolling through my name, Every mile behind me Burns another strip of L.A. away. [Final Chorus] Take me where the mountain girls rule, Where the moon burns bright and the night air’s cool, Up through the holler where the wild hearts move, Give me thunder, give me six strings, Give me something true. Those mountain girls don’t bend or bow, They’ll cut you straight when the sun goes down, Take me back into those mountains Before this city steals my soul. [Outro — Half-Time] Somewhere up that holler… Past the last county road… That’s where the mountain girls rule… That’s where I’m headed home.
