While I was out a-ridin'
Grave yard shift, midnight till dawn,
The moon was as 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 gettin' nowhere
And you're losin' your sha-a-are.
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there.
He tells me, "Last night I run onto Jenny.
She's married and has a good life,
Ah, 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?
Why does he rope for short pay?
He ain't gettin' nowhere
And he?s losin' his sha-a-are.
He must have 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 spring hit the Great Divi-i-ide.
They've never heard ol' Camp Cookie sing.
(INSTRUMENTAL break, just repeat bridge)
Well, I read up the last of my letter,
I tore off the stamp for Black Jim.
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 rope for short pay?
They ain't gettin' nowhere
And they're losin' their sha-a-are
Son, they all must be crazy out there.
repeat bridge