D G
While I was out a-ridin'
D A
Grave yard shift, midnight till dawn,
G A D Bm
The moon was as bright as a readin' light
A D
For a letter from an old friend back home.
D7
And he asked me
G A D
Why do you ride for your money?
G A D
Tell me, why do you rope for short pay?
G A
You ain't gettin' nowhere
D G G/F# Em
And you're losin' your sha-a-are.
A G D
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there.
D G
He tells me, "Last night I run onto Jenny.
D A
She's married and has a good life,
G A D Bm
Ah, you sure missed the track when you never come back.
A D
She's the perfect professional's wife.
D7
And she asked me,
G A D
"Why does he ride for his money?
G A D
Why does he rope for short pay?
G A
He ain't gettin' nowhere
D G G/F# Em
And he’s losin' his sha-a-are.
A D
He must have gone crazy out there.
BRIDGE:
G A D Bm
But then, they've never seen the Northern Lights
G A D
They've never seen a hawk on the wing.
G A D G G/F# Em
They've never seen spring hit the Great Divi-i-ide.
A D
They've never heard ol' Camp Cookie sing.
(INSTRUMENTAL break, just repeat bridge)
D G
Well, I read up the last of my letter,
D A
I tore off the stamp for Black Jim.
G A D Bm
When Billy rode up to relieve me
A D
He just looked at my letter and grinned.
SLOW:
G
He said now,
G A D
"Why do they ride for their money?
G A D
Tell me, why do they rope for short pay?
G A
They ain't gettin' nowhere
D G G/F# Em
And they're losin' their sha-a-are
A D
Son, they all must be crazy out there.
repeat bridge
Yodel chords:
G D A D
G D A D
E7 A 7 D