While I was out a ridin'
Grave yard shift, midnight til dawn
The moon was as bright as a readin' light
For a letter from an old friend back home.
Chorus
And he asked me
Why do you ride for your money?
Tell me why do you rope for short pay?
You ain't gettin' no where
And you're losin' your shaaaaare
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there.
He tells me last night I run on to 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.
Chorus
And she asked me
Why does he ride for his money?
why does he rope for short pay?
He ain't gettin' no where
And he's losin' his shaaaaare
He must have gone crazy out there.
BRIDGE
But then they've never seen the Northern Lights
They've never seen the hawk on the wing
They've never seen the spring hit the Great Diviiiiide
They've never heard ole camp cookie sing.
(INST 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.
SLOW Chorus
He said now
Why do they ride for their money?
Tell me why do they rope for short pay?
They ain't gettin' no where
And they're losin' their shaaaaaare
Son, they all must be crazy out there.
BRIDGE
Because they've never seen the Northern Lights
They've never seen the hawk on the wing
They've never seen the spring hit the Great Divide
Ahh- they've never heard ole camp cookie sing.