Lyrics Night Rider's Lament - Chris LeDoux

While I was out ridin'
The graveyard shift midnight 'til dawn
The moon was as bright as a readin' light
For a letter from an old friend back home
And he asked me

"Why do you ride for your money?
And why do you rope for short pay?
You ain't gettin' nowhere and you're losin' your share
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there"

He said last night he run into Jenny
She's married and has a good life
Boy you sure missed the track when you never come back
She's the perfect professional's wife
And she asked him

"Why does he ride for his money?
And why does he rope for short pay?
He ain't gettin' nowhere and he's losin' his share
Well, he must have gone crazy out there"

But they ain't never seen the Northern Lights
They ain't never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never seen spring at the Great Divide
They ain't never heard ol' camp cooky sing

Well, I read up the last of my letter
Tore off the stamp for black Jim
When Billy came up to relieve me
He just looked at my letter and grinned
And he said, "You know, I wonder

Why do they ride for their money?
And why do they rope for short pay?
They ain't gettin' nowhere and they're loosin' their share
Son, they all must be crazy out there"

'Cause they ain't never seen the Northern Lights
They ain't never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never seen spring hit the Great Divide
They ain't never heard ol' camp cooky sing