(tom mckeon, ron peterson)

Wed 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 wouldnt
Put an end to the fight
Then he said, Im for hire.
You need a rider.
And I dont mind ridin at night.

[chorus]
Go light on the night hawk
He dont smile, he dont talk
To strangers, and seldom to friends
And youll do well to listen
When he asks you to leave him alone
He wont ask you again

Though the man is a mystry
The story is histry
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 dont smile, he dont talk
To strangers, and seldom to friends
And youll do well to listen
When he asks you to leave him alone
He wont ask you again