Red Rider

Released: June 30, 1981

Songwriter: Rob Baker Tom Cochrane Ken Greer

Producer: Richard Landis Michael James Jackson

Me and some friends, whoa
We been buddies since Boca Raton
Signed on a ship
To take a trip to old Taiwan
Got as far as Siam
Took it on the lam
Arrived in Hong Kong with all our money gone
We joined up with a gang when
We found we couldn't go on

We still remain here
Though we don't belong
That's what they call us
Cowboys in Hong Kong

The stakes were high tonight
We're going to break on through
We're hiding in the tall grass
Waiting for our signal to move
Our friends are inside
They were beaten they were tied
We've got to get them out
Before they blow our cover wide
Some sad GI Joe's
Mind wanders home
Thinks about a girl left behind

We're freedom fighters
And so we say
They like to tell us
That anyway
We still remain here
Though we don't belong
That's why they call us
Cowboys in Hong Kong

There's a girl that he sees
When he's feeling lonely
She'll laugh and say, 'Okay Joe'
When they hold real tight
In the dead of the night
He'll pretend she's from Ohio
Oh... I'm a cowboy in Hong Kong

We're freedom fighters
And so we say
They like to tell us
That anyway
We still remain here
Though we don't belong
That's why they call us
Cowboys in Hong Kong

Red Rider was a Canadian rock band that formed in 1975. A few years later, future rock legend Tom Cochrane joined the band, and in 1979 released its breakthrough album Don’t Fight It. As Far as Siam, released in 1981, contained Lunatic Fringe, which remains Red Rider’s largest success. The band broke up silently in 1990, but reformed in 2002 and plays live to this day.

more tracks from the album

Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider

From the albums

As Far as Siam (1981)
Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider (1987)

Red Rider popular songs

Cowboys In Hong Kong (As Far As Siam)Red Rider

Red Rider

Over 60 Minutes with Red Rider