Text: Marit Larsen. Night Rider's Lament.

:
One night when I was out ridin'

The graveyard shift, midnight till dawn

The moon was bright, as a readin' light

With 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 losin' your share.

Boy, you must have gone crazy out there."



He said, "Last night, I ran on to Jenny. She's married and she has a good life.

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

She's the perfect professional's wife.

And she asked me, 'Why does he ride for his money? Tell me, why does he rope for short pay?

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

Boy, he must have 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 at the Great Divide

And they've never heard ole Camp Cookie sing



So 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 he grinned



And 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 losin' their share

Boy, they must have gone crazy out there

Son, they all must be crazy out there."