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.