Up and down the old homestead
The naked rider gallops
through his head

And although the moon isn't full
He still feels the pull.


Out on the floor
where the cowboys dance
Approaching slowly at a glance

Here comes the shadow of his stance
The reins are fallin'
from his hands.


Why do you ride that crazy horse?
Inquires the shadow

with little remorse
Just then a priest
comes down the stairs

With a sack of dreams
and old nightmares.


Who are you, the rider says
You dress in black
but you talk like a Fed

You spout ideas
from books that you read
Don't you care about

this guy's head?

Just then the sound

of hoofbeats was heard
And the sky was darkened
by a prehistoric bird

Who flew between
the unfulfilled moon
And the naked rider,

to a telephone booth.

We'll call the moon

and see what's up
I've got some change
in this little tin cup

We'll say that
the shadow is growin' dim
And we need some light

to get back to him
Just one call should do it all
I'll carve this number on the wall

With my beak.

Flying feathers were all around

The air was filled
with a ringing sound.
Two more birds,

the second and the third
Came down from the sky
to deliver the word.


Where have you been,
they said to the first

Get back to the clouds,
we're dying of thirst
There's not enough time

to make that call
Let's ditch this rider,
shadow and all.


The sky was filled
with the beautiful birds

Still on the ground
some crying was heard
With his dime in his hand

and his hand on the dial
His ears were sweating
as he forced a smile.


Hoofbeats beating across the range
He rode through the night
with his cup of change
Tired and beaten

he fell into slumber
But up in the sky
they still had his number.

Up and down the old homestead

The naked rider gallops
through his head
And although the moon isn't full
He still feels the pull,
Still feels the pull.