have you seen the horses running
racing through the fields like fire
copper chestnut gold and amber
all the colours of desire
in the blue-gold August weather
seven friends ride out together
scent of hay and creak of leather
and all the horses running
above the hills at Pincher Creek
the mountains rise like thunder
below, the prairie plain rolls on forever
Dan sitting easy on the rangy grey
Robin laughing on the little bay
when all at once time falls away
like all the horses running
back on the edge of seventeen
when first I saw them long ago
the horses moving like a dream
that summer in the Gatineau
on the back roads with Ronnie in his beat-up car
flying gravel, smell of tar
and oh we almost got as far
as all the horses running
above the hills at Fortune Lake
the night sky rose like thunder
below the valley lights stretched on forever
overhead the stars rained down
loons were calling all around
and in my ears a rushing sound
like all the horses running
those who pray can have their heaven
dim and distant, unforgiving
oh let this day be my religion
in the hills alive and living
for I have seen the horses running
all the colours of desire
copper chestnut gold and amber
they're in my blood like fire