Night Rider's Lament
Riding the Night: Unveiling Life's Choices in Mike Aiken's Ballad
Lyrics
While I was out a-ridin'
While engaged in horseback riding
The graveyard shift midnight till dawn
Working the late-night shift from midnight till dawn
The moon was as bright as a reading light
The moon was exceptionally bright, comparable to a reading light
For a letter from an old friend back home
Expressing anticipation for a letter from a friend
He asked me
The friend inquired
Why do you ride for your money?
Questioning the purpose of riding for money
Why do you rope for short pay?
Questioning why one would rope for insufficient pay
You ain't gettin' nowhere
Asserting lack of progress in life
And you're losin' your share
Expressing a diminishing share of success
Oh, you must've gone crazy out there
Suggesting a perception of insanity in choosing this lifestyle
He said last night I ran into Jenny
Recounting an encounter with Jenny, now leading a stable life
She's married and has a good life
Highlighting her marriage and stability
Boy, you sure missed the track when you never came back
Expressing regret for not returning to her and a settled life
She's the perfect professional's wife
Describing her as an ideal wife for a professional
And she asked me
She questioned
Why does he ride for his money?
Repeating the earlier question about riding for money
Why does he rope for short pay?
Repeating the earlier question about roping for short pay
He ain't gettin' nowhere
Reiterating the lack of progress in life
And he's losin' his share
Reiterating the diminishing share of success
Oh, he must've gone crazy out there
Suggesting insanity in the chosen lifestyle
But then they've never seen the northern lights
Highlighting the beauty of the northern lights
They've Never seen a hawk on the wing
Emphasizing the majestic sight of a hawk in flight
They've never seen the spring hit the Great Divide
Describing the arrival of spring at the Great Divide
They ain't never heard old Camp Cookie sing
Referencing the unheard singing of old Camp Cookie
Now, I read up the last of my letter
Concluding the letter and preparing to send it to Black Jim
And tore off the stamp for Black Jim
Removing the stamp for Black Jim
When Dougie rode up to relieve me
A fellow rider, Dougie, arrives to take over the shift
He just looked at my letter and grinned
Dougie observes the letter and grins
Comment