Key: D
Introduction:
D G D A
One night while I was out ridin' the graveyard shift, midnight 'til dawn,
G A D Bm A G D
The moon was bright as a reading light for a letter from an old friend back home,
G A D G A D
And he asked me "Why do you ride for your money? Tell me, why do you rope for short pay?
G A D Bm A G
You ain't gettin' nowhere and you're losin' your sha-a-are.
A G D
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there."
D G D A
He said "Last night I run into Jenny. She's married and has a good life.
G A D Bm A G
Boy, you sure missed the track when you never came back.
A G D
She's the perfect professional's wife.
G A D G A D
'And she asked me, 'Why does he ride for his money? And tell me why does he rope for short pay?
G A D Bm A G
He ain't gettin' nowhere and he's losin' his sha-a-re
A G D
Boy, he must've gone crazy out there.'"
G A D Bm G A D
Ah, but they've never seen the Northern Lights they've never seen a hawk on the wing,
G A D BmAG
Never spent spring on the Great Divi-i-ide,
A G D E
And they've never heard ol' Camp Cookie sing.
E A E B
Well, I read up the last of my letter, and I tore off the stamp for black Jim.
A B E C#m B A E
When Billy rode up to relieve me, he just looked at my letter and grinned.
A B E A B E
He said, "Now why do they ride for their money? Tell me why do they ride for short pay?
A B E C#m B A
They ain't gettin' nowhere and they're losin' their sha-a-are.
B A E
Boy, they must've gone crazy out there.
A B E
Son, they all must be crazy out there.
(Repeat chorus, then yodel)