I grew up in Wyoming
In and around Jackson's Hole
In the shadow of the Tetons
Where summers are hot
And winters unbearably cold
But the spring and the fall
Are always as good as it gets
For over 70 years now
I've watched the sun rise and set
I've been a cowboy
Workin' the roundups in spring
I've lived in the mountains
Hunted the grizzly
Trapping the rivers and streams
Always the loner
I've treasured my freedom the most
And though I never married
As a young man I might have come close
From somewhere back East
She came to the valley
With a man who did her no good
He was fast with the ladies
A tin horn gambler
And a cheat whenever he could
She had no friends or family
And most of the time he was gone
He died in a card game
And she found herself all alone
Alone and afraid and left unprotected
'Cause he was all that she had
Maybe I should have
But I never told her
So she never knew he was bad
But I'll always remember
Standing and watching her cry
There was no one to help her
But I was determined to try
I mended her fences and
Fixed up her cabin
Had everything lookin' good
I laid by her food
And wood for the winter
Helpin' wherever I could
The more I was around her
The more I wanted to be
There was something about her
That brought out a good side of me
I went into town, bought a new outfit
I got me a haircut and shave
I'd trek through the snow
For no good reason
Just to go by her cabin each day
I don't know about love
But I was quite taken in by it all
Till her brother came in the spring
And he took her back to St. Paul.
I don't go down to Jackson
Ain't nothing there but motels and bars
Too damn many tourists
No place to hide
They'll find you wherever you are
They like to call me old timer
I am gettin' older I guess
But I don't like the changes
'Cause I've seen it all at its best
When my life is over
I don't want to be left in town
But up in the mountains
There is a place
I marked off my own piece of ground
High in the Tetons
Above and away from it all
From the top of old Grand
I'll bet on a clear day you can see
All the way to St. Paul.