Night Rider's Lament Lyrics - Chris Ledoux

While I was out a ridin' 

the grave yard shift midnight till 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 

Why do you rope for short pay 

You ain't a gettin' nowhere and you're losin' your share 

You must have gone crazy out there 

Tells me last night he run on to 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 

Why does he rope for short pay 

He ain't a gettin' nowhere and he's losin' his share 

Well he must've gone crazy out there 

But they aint never seen the Northern Lights 

They've never seen a hawk on the wing 

They've never seen spring on the Great Divide 

They've never heard ole camp cookie sing 

Well I read up the last of my letter 

Tore off the stamp for black Jim 

Bill he rode up to relieve me 

He just looked at my letter and grinned 

He said you know I wonder 

Why do they ride for their money 

Why do they ride for short pay 

They ain't a gettin' nowhere and they're loosin' their share 

They all must be crazy back there 

Cause They ain't never seen the Northern Lights 

They've never seen a hawk on the wing 

They've never seen spring hit the Great Divide 

They've never heard ole camp cookie sing