On Top Of Old Monarch


On Colorado’s highway 50 there is a grand mountain pass
It’s a great summer drive with wild flowers and velvet green grass
So this is a story of Monarch and the last time I went
After a long winter drive and how my nerves had been spent


Now it may be nice in the summer but in the winter it sucks
There’s just not a good time in the winter for cow hauling trucks
I had loaded heifers up in Texas at 59 degrees
But now headed into the Rockies it was way below freeze


It started snowing lightly in Maysville but I’ve seen it much worse
And I’d be over the top in no time no need to worry or even curse
But as I headed up the mountain I passed the snow plows coming down
They were coming off of the mountain and heading into town


I was hauling pregnant heifers and things had been going great
But then I looked into the mirror and saw them closing up the gate
Now getting to the top of the mountain all seemed to go alright
But I don’t think I’ll go again in the winter and probably not at night


Then on the very top of monarch I pulled over to check my Bovine Brides
It was snowing in the trailer and sticking to there hides
Now as I was looking in the trailer and of this there was no doubt
One was soon to be a mother yes the calf’s feet were poking out


I wondered why I’m hauling cattle when the trucks are needing chains
But that thought quickly left me as I heard her labor pains
So there on top of Monarch being way to stressed to laugh
I stepped into the trailer to deliver a wet and slimy calf


Now every good cow hauler will tell you we’ll do the best for you
So I slipped a rope on the calf’s first leg and then slipped it on number two
Then I started pulling hard and those labor pains were load
In ten minutes I had it delivered and of me you would be proud



But as I stepped out of the trailer the snow was blizzard thick
I had to get off the mountain and do it pretty quick
Now getting down the mountain was going to take some skill
So I shifted into grandma and headed down that hill


Now turning up the local radio so the weather I could hear
The weatherman then said it best yes said loud and clear
Don’t come over Monarch with any kind of load
You’ll never get down safely it’s to slick up on that road


Now those words brought no comfort to me and I wished that I could heed
But I was already headed down the mountain and was picking up some speed
Now I was cruising out of the Rockies and what I say must be believed
When I get of this mountain me and the heifers will be relieved


Now I could see the road ahead soon it would be straight
I made it around the last corner and saw them opening up the gate
As I made it to the bottom in my head my heart did beat
And when I get it safely stopped I’m getting back up in the seat

Marty Mickelson 2009