[Verse 1]
One night while I was out a-ridin'
The graveyard shift, midnight 'til dawn
The moon was 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 a-gettin' nowhere and you're losin' your share
Boy, you must've gone crazy out there

[Verse 2]
He said, "Last night I ran on to Jenny
And she's married and she has a good life
Boy, you sure missed the track, when you never came back
She's the perfect professional's wife"

[Chorus]
And she asked me, "Why does he ride for his money?
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"

[Bridge]
Aw, but they've never seen the Northern Lights
They've never seen a hawk on the wing
They've never spent spring at the Great Divide
And they've never heard ol' Camp Cookie sing
[Verse 3]
So, 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 he grinned

[Chorus]
And 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 have gone crazy out there"

[Outro]
Son, they all must be crazy out there
Yodeling