While I was out a ridin' the grave yard shift midnight till 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 and 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 he runnin' 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 him 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   Well he must've gone crazy out there      Ah but they've never seen the Northern Lights   They ain't 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 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 you know I wonder 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 loosin' their share   Son, they all must be crazy out there   They ain't never seen the Northern Lights   They ain't 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