A                              
There's a lonley ranch wife in the valley 
                             E 
out dryin her clothes on the line 
 
but her mind's far away with the cowboy she loves 
                                A 
at his high camp way up in the pines 
 
all summer long she's been workin 
                        E 
tenden the place on her own 
 
she's seen a few strays, so she knows any day 
                       A 
he'll be one gate from home 
 
  
he's bringing yearlins back down to the flat lands 
to stay ahead of that first winter snow 
and the chill in his bones as the low cattle moans 
spurs a longin down deep in his soul 
every summer without her seems longer 
she's the only love he's ever known 
he'll ease down the north face to save him some time 
and he'll be one gate from home 
  
chorus 
   A 
he'll take down his top rail 
 
turn out his horses 
                                   E 
and walk through the pastures he's sown 
                     
and never more roam 
                        A 
he's just one gate from home 
  
a bolt of lightening a loose shoe and a deadfall 
this time he's busted up bad 
but his cowpony makes it, he watches him lope away 
the second best friend he's ever had 
each snow flake that hits his face melts a memory 
of her love and how she let him roam 
with his eyes towards the heavens 
and the last trial he'll ride 
he's just one gate from home 
  
chorus 
  
and they'll take down his top rail, 
turn out his horses 
as he walks through the pastures he's sown 
never more roam 
he's just one gate from home.