Night Rider's Lament Lyrics - Jerry Jeff Walker

Michael Burton 

One night while I was out a ridin' 

The grave yard 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 

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 has a good life 

And boy 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 

And tell me why does he rope for short pay 

He ain't a'gettin' nowhere 

And he's losin' his share 

Boy he must've 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 on the Great Divide 

And they've never heard ole' camp cookie sing 

Well 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 grinned 

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've gone crazy out there 

Son, they all must be crazy out there