The Whole Horizon Climbed

[Verse 1] The trail left town before the first bus ran A paper map folded in the pocket of my pack The switchbacks climbed through fir and broken stone I kept one steady breath, then took the next one on [Pre-Chorus] At the ridge, the wind came hard and clean My legs were shaking, but the far peaks showed between [Chorus] I made it to the high ground just as morning found the range Gold spilling over granite, turning every mile to change I stood above the timberline with both hands on my knees And watched the whole wide country open up beneath me I made it to the high ground; i can feel my heartbeat slow The sun came up to meet me, and i knew how far i’d go [Verse 2] A creek cut through the path; i crossed on two wet stones Then climbed past slopes where nothing tall had grown The last rise looked a lot steeper from below I stopped, laughed at myself, and gave the climb one more go [Pre-Chorus] Then the clouds dropped low and veiled the pass I followed painted blazes till the gray began to pass [Chorus] I made it to the high ground just as morning found the range Gold spilling over granite, turning every mile to change I stood above the timberline with both hands on my knees And watched the whole wide country open up beneath me I made it to the high ground; i can feel my heartbeat slow The sun came up to meet me, and i knew how far i’d go [Bridge] No flag to plant, no name to leave behind Just one clear view that settled something in my mind The ridges ran like rivers, blue against the day And every hard-won step had brought me all this way [Final chorus] I made it to the high ground just as morning found the range Gold spilling over granite, turning every mile to change I stood above the timberline with both hands on my knees And watched the whole wide country open up beneath me I made it to the high ground; let the new light fill my eyes The sun came up to meet me, and the whole horizon climbed [Outro] The whole horizon climbed And i climbed there, too