After taking a brief recording hiatus in the mid-1990s to start a family with her husband, songwriter Doug Crider, Bogguss returned to the country music scene to find that her charting power had already faded. Although she last appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1999, Bogguss continues to record and perform around the country to a loyal following.
Her most recent recordings have ventured into swing and jazz variations of country. These albums really showcase the tremendous talent in her voice. Suzy is a true singer, and her voice has so much versatility.
In 2014, Suzy added an album of Merle Haggard songs entitled "Lucky". The country & western flavor dominates this album, unlike some of her other recent work. To promote this new album, Suzy has embarked on a nationwide tour.
Night Rider's Lament
Suzy Bogguss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The graveyard shift midnight till dawn
The moon was as bright as a reading light
For a letter from an old friend back home
(chorus)
she asked me
Why does he ride for his money?
he ain't gettin' nowhere
And he's losin' his share
Oh, he must've gone crazy out there
He said last night I ran into Jenny
They married and have a good life
Oh, you sure missed the track when you never came back
She made the perfect professional's wife
(repeat chorus){she}
(bridge)
They've never seen the northern lights
Never seen a hawk on the wing
Never seen the spring at the Great Divide
And they ain't ever heard old Camp Cookie sing
Now, I read up the last of the letter
And tore off the stamp for Black Jim
then billy rode up to relieve me
He just looked at the letter and grinned
(repeat chorus){they}
(repeat bridge){they}
The lyrics of Suzy Bogguss's song Night Rider's Lament narrate the story of a cowboy who questions his purpose in life and his chosen occupation while riding the graveyard shift from midnight till dawn. The cowboy receives a letter from an old friend, asking him why he rides for his money and ropes for short pay, suggesting that he must have gone crazy out there. The cowboy responds by telling his friend that he ran into Jenny, who he never pursued in the past, and she is now married with a good professional life. He reads the letter from his friend and tears off the stamp for Black Jim, indicating his decision that he wants to keep riding.
The cowboy's friend is questioning his way of life, which he believes may not have rewards equivalent to the hard work he puts in. The cowboy seems unsure and conflicted about his choices, but the memory of Jenny and the lifestyle he has become accustomed to while riding, are challenging him to abandon this life. The lyrics highlight the trading of societal norms and expected lifestyles for the freedom that comes from a cowboy's occupation, a decision that leaves the cowboy battling his demons with no clear resolution in sight.
Line by Line Meaning
While I was out a-ridin'
During my graveyard shift from midnight till dawn
The graveyard shift midnight till dawn
Working through the night and early morning
The moon was as bright as a reading light
The moon was shining bright enough to read by
For a letter from an old friend back home
To read a letter from a friend who was far away
She asked me, Why does he ride for his money?
She questioned why he chose to work so hard for his earnings
Why does he rope for short pay?
And why he settles for less money than he deserves
He ain't gettin' nowhere
It seems he's not making any progress
And he's losin' his share
In fact, he's even losing out on his earnings
Oh, he must've gone crazy out there
The situation seems to have taken a toll on him
He said last night I ran into Jenny
He told me recently that he saw an old acquaintance named Jenny
They married and have a good life
Jenny and her partner married and built a happy life together
Oh, you sure missed the track when you never came back
It's a shame you didn't stay to enjoy what life had to offer
She made the perfect professional's wife
Jenny seemed to have played the role of the ideal career-oriented man’s wife
They've never seen the northern lights
On the other hand, the man being referred to as 'he' has seen things that Jenny and her partner haven't
Never seen a hawk on the wing
He's caught glimpses of nature's wonders that they missed out on
Never seen the spring at the Great Divide
He's seen the beauty of the changing seasons at a place called the Great Divide
And they ain't ever heard old Camp Cookie sing
They haven't even had the pleasure of hearing the famous Camp Cookie sing
Now, I read up the last of the letter
As I finished reading the letter
And tore off the stamp for Black Jim
I removed the stamp from the letter
Then billy rode up to relieve me
Another person named Billy arrived to take over from me
He just looked at the letter and grinned
Billy read the letter and smiled, perhaps understanding what it meant to the recipient
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL E BURTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind