The Gift

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[Verse 1]
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In old St. Louis over in Missouri
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The Mighty Mississippi it rolls and flows
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A son was born to Mary Russell
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And it starts the legend every cowboy knows

[Verse 2]
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Young kid Russell he was born to wander
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Ever westward he was bound to roam
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Just a kid of sixteen in 1880
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Up in wild Montana he found his home

[Chorus]
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God made Montana for the wild man
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For the Peigon and Sioux and Crow
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But He saved his greatest gift for Charlie
                  Dm              C
Said get her all down before she goes---Charlie
                       Dm                       C
You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go

[Verse 3]
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God hung the stars over Judith Basin
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God put the magic in young Charlie's hand
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All was seen and all remembered
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Every shining mountain every longhorn brand

[Verse 4]
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He could paint the light on horsehide shining
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Great passing herds of the buffalo
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And a cowcamp cold on a rainy morning
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And the twisting wrist of the Houlihan throw

[Chorus]
C           Am            C
God made Montana for the wild man
         Am         Am7        Dm
For the Peigon and Sioux and Crow
                                    C
But He saved his greatest gift for Charlie
                  Dm              C
Said get her all down before she goes---Charlie
                       Dm                       C
You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go

[Verse 5]
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When the Lord called Charlie to His home up yonder
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He said Kid Russell I got a job for you
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You're in charge of sunsets in old Montana
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Cause I can't paint them quite as good as you
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And when you're done---we'll go out and have a few
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And Nancy Russell will make sure it's just two

[Chorus]
C           Am            C
God made Montana for the wild man
         Am         Am7        Dm
For the Peigon and Sioux and Crow
                                    C
But He saved his greatest gift for Charlie
                  Dm              C
Said get her all down before she goes---Charlie
                       Dm                       C
You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go
                       Dm                       C
You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go
                       Dm                       C
You gotta get her all down cause she's bound to go (Repeat and Fade)