Powder Cowboy
From the Unplugged album · Voice and acoustic guitar
Demo recording
Produced with AI music tools, not performed by me or a band. The lyrics are mine, and a live version with real musicians is the next step.
Eleven winters alone below the Lizard Range, chasing three legendary storm systems across the Canadian Rockies: the southwest flow, the Crowsnest upslope, and the Pacific firehose that buries Revelstoke. Then comes one perfect bluebird morning at twenty below, with no one else around. And the mountain answers back.
Lyrics
Verse 1
From Kawneer on through the Crow's Nest Pass
Watched a snowy owl cut through the squall
Eleven mighty winters since I built that cabin
Off a loggin' road beneath the Lizard wall
December brought a strong southwest flow
And the snow began to fall
I knew damn well what that weather meant
So I saddled up and off I went
Verse 2
Before the mornin' light broke
I had my Roaster's Choice poured
Ate standin' up at the window
Pulled the wool on stiff and cold
Ain't no coals left in the hearth
I wouldn't be stayin' long
Weather showed an upslope blowin' in
Headin' up to York Creek, for seven-thirty sharp
Refrain
How many winters more? He never stops to guess
This powder cowboy keeps on runnin' west
Keeps on runnin' west
Verse 3
Drove all night through Rogers Pass
Where the cold Columbia rides
From midnight till the mornin' broke
With the Selkirks at my side
The miles and miles kept comin' on
On Timmies and a pouch of Drum
Pacific firehose was buckin' Revy
And Lord, you should've seen the dump
Verse 4
By the fire I'd butted out
My mind went wanderin' home to Raymond
Where good ol' Lemont had tied the knot
With that wheat-blond beauty from Magrath
I was livin' out a younger man's dream
Wonderin' how far west a man can go
Refrain
How many winters more? He never stops to guess
This desperado keeps on runnin' west
Keeps on runnin' west
Verse 5
So I was off the ledge on a leap of faith
With both my boots planted down
It was bluebird high and twenty below
Not another soul around
Figured I'd ride this hand awhile
See how the cards played out
Verse 6
Then somewhere high above the trees
Came a crack like a rifle shot
And the whole damn mountain came down
Outro
No more winters left to guess
No more cards to play
The mountain took him under
And there the cowboy stays
There he stays
