I ain't going no further
This expedition ain't taking one more step
Days of climbing and nothing to show but a nosebleed
And the base of the ascent is littered with the bones…

…of every mule that ever was abandoned
And every dog cut loose from the harness, free to roam
And the cast-iron runners left to rust in the snow
And it's three hundred feet to the top
And the bravest of climbers gave it all up and went home
Yea, the bravest of climbers gave it all up and went back home

Oh, darling, why did you tell me you would meet me
When you had no intention of seeing this clear
You know, I've stopped hoping for the weather to break
And my boots are no match for this cold
And the bravest of climbers got no business being up here
No, the bravest of climbers got no business being up here

PEDAL STEEL SOLO

Well, news of the storm blows through the streets of anchorage
And the first blast of snow strips the bark from the trees
Well, the radio went dead and the mission was abandoned
And it's just like he never was here
When the wind starts blowin'…
…I'm gonna sit down in the snow and wait to freeze
When the wind starts blowin'
'm gonna sit down in the snow and wait to freeze
And my car keys and my ribcage is all I will leave