When days work is over from sundown till dawn
That's when you'll hear the night riders song
That long lonesome whistle and tunes with no words
The chat of the night songs we sang round the herd
Cattle on the bed ground, I hope that they'll stay
Till we're back on the trail at the breakin' of day
But until dawn I hope that they'll sleep
Rest easy weary cattle to my cowboys melody
My trusty little night horse he's gentle and smart
He's heard my songs so much he knows 'em by heart
Ridin' the night herd all the night long
His hooves a-keepin' time to my cow puncher song
Got to keep the herd settled don't want no stampede
Two thousand runnin' steers is what I don't need
'Cause lightning and longhorns ain't no kind of game
It's sure hell for leather through thunder and rain
What keeps the herd from runnin' stampedin' far and wide
The range riders moan and the Texas lullaby
In all kinds of weather the lonely night through
The chant of the night songs, the range riders blues
Now the days of the range ridin' cowboy have gone
The lonely night rider he's sung his last song
That long lonesome whistle, the tunes with no words
The chant of the night songs no more to be heard
Sleep dogie, sleep