While I was out a-ridin'
The graveyard shift midnight till dawn
The moon was as bright as a reading light
For a letter from an old friend back home
He asked me
Why do you ride for your money?
Why do you rope for short pay?
You ain't gettin' nowhere
And you're losin' your share
Oh, you must've gone crazy out there
He said last night I ran into Jenny
She's married and has a good life
Boy, you sure missed the track when you never came 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 share
Oh, he must've 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 the spring hit the Great Divide
They ain't never heard old Camp Cookie sing
Now, I read up the last of my letter
And tore off the stamp for Black Jim
When Dougie rode up to relieve me
He just looked at my letter and grinned

He said now
Why do they ride for their money?
Why do they rope for short pay?
They ain't gettin' nowhere
Damn sure losin' their share
Son they All must be crazy out there
Because they've never seen the northern lights
They've never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never seen the spring hit the Great Divide
Ahh- they never heard old Camp Cookie sing