Lyrics
While I was out ridin'
Graveyard shift, midnight 'til 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 gettin' nowhere, you're losin' your share
Boy, you must've gone crazy out there"
He tells me, "Last night I ran on to Jenny
She's married, she has a good life
All you sure missed the track, when you never come back
But 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, he's losin' his share
He must've gone crazy out there"
And they've never seen the northern lights
Never seen a hawk on the wing
Never seen spring at the Great Divide
They've never heard ol' Camp Cookie sing
Well, I read up the last of my letter
And tore off the stamp for black Jim
When Billy rode up to relieve me
He just looked at my letter and he grinned
And then he said, "Why do they ride for their money?
Why do you rope for short pay?
They ain't gettin' nowhere, and they're losin' there share
And they all must've gone crazy out there"
And they've never seen the northern lights
Never seen a hawk on the wing
Never seen spring at the Great Divide
And they've never heard ol' Camp Cookie sing