Song for Martin

This is an achingly beautiful song written by Collins in memory of and homage to Martin Hoffman, a friend from Denver who in 1958 had composed music for a Woody Guthrie poem titled "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)" which Guthrie had written in 1948.

In Rough Rock, Arizona he lived for many years alone
A gangly kid from Colorado, who could sing the sweetest songs
I first heard Woody's songs from him in a cabin in the snow
Seems like it was yesterday but it was years and years ago

He moved to Arizona in nineteen sixty-one
Got a job at the Indian school - he was livin' in the sun
My life was movin' fast by now, I was always on the run
My country life was far behind and the circus had begun

Marty, I know it got lonely out there
Coyotes cryin' at midnight in the cold desert air
The heart that sorrow broke in you can never be repaired
Mart, I know I let you down somewhere

I knew that me and Marty, we should have been good friends
I always knew the paths we walked were meant to cross again
We talked on the telephone once or twice a year
His voice was so familiar, his memory was clear

I'll never know what brought him to where he finally stood
A shotgun pointed at his head in a cabin in the woods
But somehow I could hear it, it struck my heart as well
For the unknown man who needs a hand
For the friend I'll never know

Marty, I know it got lonely out there
Coyotes cryin' at midnight in the cold desert air
The heart that sorrow broke in you can never be repaired
Mart, I know I let you down somewhere

- lyrics & music by Judy Collins. © Universal Music Corp., Rocky Mountain National Park Music Inc. All rights reserved.

For the record, Collins wrote and recorded this song for her 1973 album titled True Stories and Other Dreams.  She recorded the Guthrie / Martin song "DEPORTEE Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" for her album Judy Collins 3 in 1963. It was also included in her "Judy Collins Concert" album.