Night Rider's Lament

While I was out a-ridin'

The graveyard shift midnight till dawn

The moon was as bright as a reading light

For a letter from an old friend back home.

He said last night I ran into Jenny

They married and have a good life

Oh, you sure missed the track when you never came back

She made the perfect professional's wife.

She asked me,

"Why do you ride for your money?"

"Why do you rope for short pay?"

You ain't gettin' nowhere

And you're losin' your share

Oh, you must've gone crazy out there.

They've never seen the northern lights

Never seen a hawk on the wing

Never seen the spring hit the Great Divide

And they ain't ever heard old Camp Cookie sing.

Now, I read up the last of my letter

And tore of the stamp for Black Jim

Little Dougie rode up to relieve me

He just looked at my letter and grinned.

He said

"Why do they ride for your money?"

"Why do they rope for short pay?"

They ain't gettin' nowhere

And they're losin' your share

Oh, They all must be crazy out there.

They've never seen the northern lights

Never seen a hawk on the wing

Never seen the spring at the Great Divide

And they ain't ever heard old Camp Cookie sing...