Night Rider

[A ghostly chorus]
Night rider

Well, a-truckin’ on the night line, quarter past five
Tryin’ to get my rig an’ me to ’Frisco alive
Fog lights up tight, a-givin’ me the creeps
Just a Winnemucca trucka with a load a’ black sheep

I got a belly full a’ jelly and head full a’ pain
Bennies spinnin’ spider webs, a-messin’ my brain
Tryin’ ta get myself together with a shot a’ black C
What I really oughta get me is an hour a’ Z

[Chorus, but not ghostly]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights, think you’ve gone blind

Well, Alabammy Mammy got a spell on my life
Kansas City Kitty cut my heart out tonight
I lost a C-note in Reno off a’ Keno and craps
And now Smokey’s on the overpass a-settin’ his traps
White line’s a laser burnin’ holes in my eyes
Feelin’ like I’m hypnotized, think I’m gonna die
Interstate 80, gonna get me no sleep
Just a-winkin’ and a-blinkin’ with a stinkin’ load a’ sheep

[Chorus]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights, think you’ve gone blind

Well a-ba ba black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sah, yes sah, three bags full
One for my master, and one for my dame
And one for Jimmy Bowen who lives in L.A.

[Chorus]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind

Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
[Psychotic cackling here. He’s losin’ it.]
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind
[Fade out]
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind
Night Rider, Night Rider, losin’ your mind
Look at those lights ’til you think you’re goin’ blind

When we did this little number in the road shows, back in the mid-seventies, there was this pair of humongous strobe lights flashing with every beat…which was supposed to represent blinding headlights out on some desolate highway. The fairgrounds crowd loved the effect…but it almost put me away. — Bill

The original recording of "Night Rider" was released on the album Wolf Creek Pass.

Jimmy Bowen is a record producer.

Night Rider (Bill Fries, Chip Davis)

Night Rider
(Bill Fries, Chip Davis)