We'd worked ourselves senseless Been bustin' down fences Drivin' dry cattle, no water in sight As we sat 'round the fire And cursed the barbed wire A stranger broke into our light
Not knowin' no better Some fool went for leather But a whispered "I wouldn't" Put an end to the fight Then he said, "I'm for hire. "You need a rider. "And I don't mind ridin' at night."
[Chorus] Go light on the Night Hawk He don't smile, he don't talk To strangers, and seldom to friends And you'll do well to listen When he asks you to leave him alone He won't ask you again
Though the man is a myst'ry The story is hist'ry How a range fire came Like a thief in the night Took his young wife and babies His would-bes and maybes And burned out the love in his life
[Chorus] Go light on the Night Hawk He don't smile, he don't talk To strangers, and seldom to friends And you'll do well to listen When he asks you to leave him alone He won't ask you again