"The Rockies Are Callin'"
[Verse 1]
From the valleys of the Yampa and on up to Pike's Peak
The Colorado Rockies, are a sight that all should seek
Aspen leaves aglow in the cleansing light of the mornin’ sun
This land of rugged beauty, where my adventure has just begun
[Chorus:]
Oh, these Rocky Mountains so wide and high
Where columbines grow and eagles fly
From the Continental Divide to the San Juan Range
The Rockies are callin’ and my heart aches for change
[Verse 2:]
In the shadow of Mount Elbert stands the town of Leadville
Where miners once sought silver, with all their strength and will
Onward to Gunnison, where the Black Canyon carves its way
Through dark layers of gneiss and schist, its tireless waters play
[Chorus:]
Oh, these Rocky Mountains so wide and high
Where columbines grow and eagles fly
From the Continental Divide to the San Juan Range
The Rockies are callin’ and my heart aches for change
[Verse 3:]
Through the windin’ roads of Lariat to wildflowers at Crested Beaute
The Maroon Bells rise near Aspen, lofty giants standing so resolute
Rocky Mountain National Park, where elk bugle their haunting song
And the high tundra shows off its colors, as the summer days grow long
[Chorus:]
Oh, these Rocky Mountains so wide and high
Where columbines grow and eagles fly
From the Continental Divide to the San Juan Range
The Rockies are callin’ and my heart aches for change
[Bridge:]
In the Sangre de Cristos, Great Sand Dunes standin’ tall
A testament to time itself, where wild winds have shaped it all
From ancient cliff dwellings to modern towers that scrape the sky
This land of beauty and inspiration which beckons our very souls to fly
[Verse 4:]
Up the windin’ Trail Ridge Road, to Alpine tundra's door
The Medicine Bow Mountains, and the mighty Flat Top Four
From Grand Junction to Durango, the San Juans rise high above
This magical land of plenty of which I can never get enough
[Final Chorus:]
Oh, these Rocky Mountains so wide and high
Where my spirit soars, and my troubles drift on by
From lofty granite peaks to the Colorado's endless flow
These mighty Rocky Mountains are the only home I know
Song Description:
Genre: Folk-rock ballad with soaring Americana elements
BPM: 80–100
Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, light percussion, occasional harmonica and strings for lift during the chorus and bridge
"The Rockies Are Callin’" is a heartfelt musical journey through the majestic Colorado Rockies, told through the eyes of a wandering soul yearning for personal renewal in the embrace of nature. With vivid place-based imagery and sweeping emotional undercurrents, the song captures the grandeur, history, and spiritual power of the mountain West.
The first verse sets the tone with a warm invocation of the Yampa Valley and Pike’s Peak, painting a morning scene bathed in golden light and shimmering aspen groves. The lyrics reflect not only natural beauty but a personal calling—the beginning of an inner and outer adventure.
The recurring chorus serves as a powerful refrain, evoking the grandeur of the mountains “so wide and high,” where wild columbines bloom and eagles ride thermals across expansive skies. The juxtaposition of the Continental Divide and the San Juan Range anchors the song geographically while expressing a deeper longing for change and rediscovery.
Each verse then highlights different iconic locations in the Colorado Rockies:
Verse 2 recalls the mining past of Leadville and the dramatic depths of the Black Canyon near Gunnison, where geology and river erosion symbolize both endurance and change.
Verse 3 brings lyrical beauty to life with the winding Lariat Loop, the serene splendor of Crested Butte, the towering Maroon Bells, and the seasonal drama of elk bugling in Rocky Mountain National Park.
The bridge expands the song’s emotional and historical resonance, invoking the Great Sand Dunes and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as timeless landscapes molded by wind and memory. It bridges the region’s ancient indigenous past with the present, evoking awe and reverence.
In Verse 4, the narrator travels the scenic Trail Ridge Road into high alpine realms, name-dropping the less-traveled Medicine Bow range and the signature Flat Tops. The verse stitches together a broader panorama from Grand Junction to Durango—underscoring that every corner of the state offers wonder.
The final chorus shifts from yearning to belonging, grounding the narrator’s identity firmly in the Rocky Mountains. The emotional tone crescendos as the mountains are no longer just calling—they are *home*. The final lines highlight a spiritual sense of peace: *“Where my spirit soars, and my troubles drift on by.”
Themes:
* Awe and reverence for natural landscapes
* Restlessness and longing for renewal
* History, geology, and the passage of time
* Belonging, identity, and the call of the wild
Key Locations Referenced:
* Yampa Valley
* Pike’s Peak
* Leadville & Gunnison
* Black Canyon of the Gunnison
* Crested Butte
* Maroon Bells
* Rocky Mountain National Park
* Great Sand Dunes
* Sangre de Cristo Mountains
* Trail Ridge Road
* Medicine Bow Mountains
* Flat Tops Wilderness
* Grand Junction & Durango
* San Juan Mountains
* Continental Divide
Ideal For:
This song works beautifully as part of a Rocky Mountain state-focused album or Colorado-themed set in your *Songs Across America* series. It captures both sweeping vistas and heartfelt emotion—perfect for folk, roots, or Americana audiences who appreciate travel, nature, and introspective storytelling.
Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for side-panel use or a paragraph for your state or region index page.
