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

And 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

Chorus:
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 or lover or young wife
With babe
But I know who's waiting for me
A mother and father who's hair has
Turned to gray

Chorus:
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

Refrain:
A long way it is from Montana