[Em] the truth comes out as the fire burns low 
[D] it comes to light as only embers glow 
[C] the whiskey talks, the west wind moans in the night[Em] [D]

[Em] the deadfall's gathered and the branches are cut 
[D] kindling crackles and the smoke curls up 
[C] the small sticks catch then the bigger stuff will burn[Em] [D]

[Em] chinook dies down as the dark descends 
[D] pine has burned, the ash has cleansed 
[C] the message smolders, is lost, but finally sent[Em] [D]

[Em] connie says she's never seen the cougars so bold 
[D] they're comin in the yard and they're stealin young colts 
[C] they drag em in the brush with the claws sunk in their nose[Em] [D]

[Em] the weather's been funny thirty years or so 
[D] the winters got warm, not as much snow 
[C] hear the big cats comin cuz there's nowhere left to go[Em] [D]

[Em] you gotta look out for bear when you’re fishing on lee’s creek 
[D] they’ll come round the bend and they’ll make your knees weak 
[C] there’s grizzlies where there was no grizzly bears before[Em] [D]

[Em] half heard voices from the ghosts, from the graves 
[D] the grandfathers tell us at the mouths of the caves 
[C] only old chiefs older than jesus can save us now, if we're lucky[Em] [D]

[Em] white man light a big fire, stay cold 
[D] the red man's warmer, but the old man's old 
[C] the antelope seeks the buffalo in the night[Em] [D]

[C] the antelope mourns the buffalo in the night[G] [D]

{play a small instrumental of a verse again}