[Intro] Year was 1949, was on a warm Missoula day, 13 brave young jumpers in their youth [?] Morning clear and sunny afternoon the sky turned gray, lightning torch the timber how it burned those hills away [Verse 1] It was just a routine mission as [?] spread over the ground, taking time for supper [?] and crew gathered around, further in the gulch though how the fiery winds did blow, further in the gulch how the fiery embers glow [Chorus] And they had gone off in the fire underneath Montana skies with their packs so laden heavy wher the smoke it burns their yes In their line of duty they had struggled to be free, in their youthful courage now in time they all will be [Verse 2] Workin in the gulch now as they try to dig a line, then fire rages towards them dropping tools there is no time, racing for a ridgetop as they try to stay ahead, if mistakes are made now then this crew will all be dead [Verse 3] In the time of panic how communications fell, in the smoky darkness how the crew they couldnt tell, minutes take a lifetime as the fire rages near, 13 brave young jumpers and the gulch all disappear [Chorus] And they had gone off in the fire underneath Montana skies with their packs so laden heavy where the smoke it burns their eyes In their line of duty they had struggled to be free, in their youthful courage now in time they all will be [Verse 4] Many years have passed now since that warm Missoula day 13 lonely crosses mark the hill so far away In their fateful duty to the force [?] Was in their fateful duty now in time they all will stay [Chorus] And they had gone off in the fire underneath Montana skies with their packs so laden heavy where the smoke it burns their eyes In their line of duty they had struggled to be free, in their youthful courage now in time they all will be [Outro] Now in time they all will be Now in time they all will be Now in time theyll always be
gulch, duty, youthful, laden, struggled