Night Rider's Lament Lyrics

 (Michael Burton) 

 One night while I was out a ridin' 
 The grave yard shift, midnight 'til dawn 
 The moon was 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 
 Tell me why do you rope for short pay 
 You ain't a'gettin' nowhere 
 And you're loosin' your share 
 Boy, you must have gone crazy out there 

 He said last night I ran on to Jenny 
 She's married and has a good life 
 And boy you sure missed the track 
 When you never come back 
 She's the perfect professional's wife 

 And she asked me 
 Why does he ride for his money 
 And tell me why does he rope for short pay 
 He ain't a'gettin' nowhere 
 And he's loosin' his share 
 Boy he must've gone crazy out there 

 Ah but they've never seen the Northern Lights 
 They've never seen a hawk on the wing 
 They've never spent spring on the Great Divide 
 And they've never heard ole' camp cookie sing 

 Well I read up the last of my letter 
 And I tore off the stamp for black Jim 
 And when Billy rode up to relieve me 
 He just looked at my letter and grinned 

 He said now 
 Why do they ride for their money 
 Tell me why do they ride for short pay 
 They ain't a'gettin' nowhere 
 And they're loosin' their share 
 Boy, they must've gone crazy out there 
 Son, they all must be crazy out there