Night Rider's Lament - Chris Ledoux

While I was out a-ridin'

The graveyard shift midnight 'til dawn

The moon was as bright as a reading light

For a letter from an old friend back home

He 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

He said last night I ran into Jenny

She’s married and has a good life

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

She’s the perfect professional’s wife

And she said now

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

But then they’ve never seen the northern lights

They’ve Never seen a hawk on the wing

They’ve never seen the spring hit the Great Divide

They ain’t never heard old Camp Cookie sing

Now, I read up the last of my letter

And tore off the stamp for Black Jim

When Dougie rode up to relieve me

He just looked at my letter and grinned

He said now

Why do they ride for their money?

Why do they rope for short pay?

They ain’t gettin' nowhere

Damn sure losin' their share

Son they All must be crazy out there

Because they’ve never seen the northern lights

They’ve never seen a hawk on the wing

They’ve never seen the spring hit the Great Divide

Ahh- they never heard old Camp Cookie sing