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



Shadow

"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



Rider

"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.



Bird 1

"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."



Birds 2 and 3

"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 cars 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