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

(chorus)
she asked me
Why does he ride for his money?
Why does he rope for short pay?
he ain't gettin' nowhere
And he's losin' his share
Oh, he must've gone crazy out there

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

(repeat chorus){she}

(bridge)
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

Now, I read up the last of the letter
And tore off the stamp for Black Jim
then billy rode up to relieve me
He just looked at the letter and grinned

(repeat chorus){they}

(repeat bridge){they}